EVANSVILLE — Darlene Quinlin admits it’s a good problem to have.
She’s referring to a decision made at the start of this boys volleyball season. Memorial High School was the only school in Southwestern Indiana to field a team last season, the first since the sport becoming officially sanctioned by the Indiana High School Athletic Association. The Tigers never had the numbers to even scrimmage six-on-six at any point.
There was a different issue to deal with this March. Quinlin had to make cuts to the varsity roster.
“That speaks volumes to the culture here,” she said. “It’s a problem we want to have.”
One which indicates in clear terms: this sport and the program is gaining its footing.
The building blocks throughout the Memorial boys volleyball program supported the notion. The numbers have doubled, even tripled from this same point last year. The knowledge of the game has grown even more exponentially. No longer are the Tigers “just straight athletes.” They’re volleyball players.
The biggest indicator for growth? The results are the floor. Memorial won the IHSAA sectional championship last weekend with a four-set victory over Bloomington North. The program didn’t exist in any form two years ago.
“This year, we have the athlete part and we have the volleyball knowledge,” senior Luke Dockery said. “Also having trust in our teammates. I’ve played with Maxx (Anslinger) in three sports for three straight years now. Having trust in him and other people on the court has been a blessing.”
Last year was literally starting from scratch. Memorial only had 10 athletes and two didn’t join until after the season started. The Tigers finished 3-8 but advanced to the sectional final (a three-set loss to Martinsville). The limited regular season — tough to find matches as the only Evansville program — was spent on the road or asking opponents to travel two hours to Evansville.
The difference year-to-year is impressive. Memorial won multiple matches in tournaments at Jeffersonville and Terre Haute South. The Tigers were the Scottsburg Invitational champions. They hosted five home matches, certainly helped by Reitz becoming the second Evansville school to field a team.
Anslinger (158 kills), Dockery (134) and Evan Stahl (98) lead the attack. Kellen Howe has been the primary backline defender with 180 digs. Greysen Wedding paces the Tigers with 150 assists.
Quinlin identified more volleyball IQ and technical ability throughout the roster. She also sees a group putting in the effort.
“It’s all about these guys,” Quinlin said. “We definitely have more volleyball IQ this year, but they have the talent and the desire. We’ve got former players coming back. Some girls volleyball players that went on scholarships to UE have come back. That’s how the program grows.”
Anslinger was one of a handful of rookies this spring. The senior wanted to play last year but was recovering from a shoulder injury. Despite the inexperience, he immediately saw the value and growth around the program. Anslinger had a team-high 19 kills in the sectional championship despite playing on a sprained ankle.
“I really wanted to play last year,” he said. “Our team chemistry (is high). Even if we’re down, we’ll be laughing on the court. The coaches really stepped up and taught us a lot more. We just have to believe. In basketball, anybody can upset anybody. It’s kind of the same in volleyball.”
The growth building from the Kent Athletic Center became evident last week. Memorial opened the sectional with a four-set win over Terre Haute South. Next was a tense, five-set comeback against Martinsville in the semifinals after losing the first two sets. The championship round was equally competitive: the Tigers won the first two sets by two points each.
The reaction to winning the title? This was the expectation. Memorial believed it had the better players and team.
“We have set it as our goal to continue to make history,” Quinlin said. “I’m hoping with the rise of FJ Reitz, who was right there competing in the sectional, maybe more of local schools will get teams together, so we can show the rest of Indiana that Southern Indiana knows their boys volleyball.”
Only 16 teams remain in the IHSAA state tournament. If the Tigers (17-5) win twice on Saturday at Perry Meridian High School, a return trip to Indianapolis for the state finals is in order.
The next step isn’t easy. First up in the regional is defending state champion No. 1 Roncalli (29-3). Awaiting the winner is No. 20 Jeffersonville (23-9) or Franklin Community (19-12).
The goal remains to push the program forward. Such an objective has already been accomplished this season.
“We’re trying to set the bar,” Dockery said. “Every year now it’s going to take that step forward little by little.”
Kyle Sokeland is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland or email at kyle.sokeland@courierpress.com.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Memorial boys volleyball continues growth as program with sectional title
Reporting by Kyle Sokeland, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
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