Interest in boys high school volleyball spiking at Salem
A member of Salem’s boys inaugural volleyball team passes the ball during a spirited practice last week.
For Salem High School junior Erik Nordstrom, the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s addition of boys volleyball as an official high school sport couldn’t have come at a better time.
A longtime player of club volleyball, Nordstrom is expected to be the on-court leader of the Rocks this spring once their season starts April 13.
“I was really excited when I first heard the news — I believe it was sometime last year — that the MHSAA was going to make boys volleyball a varsity sport,” said Nordstrom, whose sister Elizabeth was a junior star for Salem this past fall. “I’ve been playing club volleyball for L2 (in Brighton) for a long time. To be able to represent my school in the sport is an amazing feeling.”
Coach knows his stuff
Salem’s inaugural boys volleyball head coach is Mike Huegli, a native of Rochester who played club volleyball in high school before continuing to play for Michigan State University’s highly-regarded club program for three years (he was also a hurdler for MSU’s track and field team as a freshman).
“I’ve played most sports and, honestly, there’s nothing quite like volleyball,” said Huegli. “It’s made up of moments that require quick reactions — and you have to play every point like it’s the Super Bowl. Even volleyball players don’t move as much as athletes in some sports, you’re exhausted at the end of the day.”
After posting a social media announcement regarding tryouts, Huegli said he received a response from 16 student-athletes.
(To check out quick video highlights from a recent Salem practice, click here.)
Effort helps overcome lack of experience
“Throughout our three-day tryout, we had 25 students show up (he kept 15 players), the majority of which had never played volleyball,” Huegli added. “Erik is the only one who has played club volleyball before, but the ones who haven’t played a lot our picking it up pretty quickly.”
Lindstrom agreed with the Rocks’ rapid improvement.
“We have more talent than I expected,” Lindstrom said. “We have some very athletic players; now it’s all about teaching them how to play the game.”
Promising signs
When making the excruciating cuts following the final tryout, Huegli said he prioritized effort and how quickly individual players picked up the intricacies of the sport.
“I also wanted some balance in terms of making sure we had enough freshmen and sophomores because we’re building a program, not necessarily looking to win big right away,” Huegli said. “I had to cut some seniors, which was tough, but I like our team.”
In addition to Nordstrom, Huegli spoke highly of two senior middle hitters — Connor Townsend and Jake Christensen — and a pair of freshmen who have shown a lot of promise.
The Rocks open their inaugural season April 13 at Novi High School, where they’ll be joined by the host Wildcats and Plymouth High School.
“It’s all about learning the fundamentals,” Huegli said, when asked about what he’s been emphasizing at pre-season practices. “It starts with a good pass, which leads to a good set and good attack.”
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
