The accuracy of a volleyball player’s serve can determine the success or failure of a point. That’s why Lake Zurich’s boys volleyball team prefers to mix up its serves each match.
There are two common serves in boys volleyball — the jump float and the jump. The jump serve is the more violent of the two, requiring a high toss of the ball accompanied by a leap in the air and a full arm swing.
Lake Zurich practices those movements each day.
“We have a drill where we have to get everyone’s serves and we have to get six in a row with six perfect passes,” junior outside hitter Nick Meyer said.
“It takes us a while to do that,” senior outside hitter Matt Carmody said.
The constant repetition is yielding results for the Bears.
On Friday and Saturday, Lake Zurich participated in the Lake County Invitational. The Bears won four of five matches, sweeping all six games in three matches Saturday at Lakes. Lake Zurich started the day with a 25-15, 25-18 win over North Suburban Conference foe Mundelein.
The Bears’ service game was on against Mundelein. Meyer’s jump serve and Carmody’s float kept the Mustangs off balance and out of their system. Senior right-side hitter Nic Angelini also used his jump serve effectively. Senior setter Paul Lee and senior libero Tommy Orchard were efficient with their jump float serves.
When the Bears are serving well, they become stronger in other facets of the game.
“We have great setters [Lee and sophomore Jeff Carmody] and many passers,” assistant coach Brett Stuart said. “It’s also a deep team with a lot of hitters.”
Meyer added: “We are good when we are consistently passing, consistently serving, consistent everything.”
Lake Zurich is big, with six players who stand 6-foot-2 or taller. Four — Meyer, senior Austin Keller and juniors Nate Amos and Andrew Gilbertson — are 6-3 or taller. This size advantage was evident at the Lake County Invitational, as teams with smaller front lines struggled against the Bears.
When playing teams with taller outsides and middles, like Mundelein, the Bears’ size is a defensive asset. Teams struggle hitting around the blocks of Amos and Keller in the middle and Meyer, Matt Carmody and junior Christopher Steibel on the outside.
“We’re a big team with guys who can play defense,” Stuart said. “We’re getting better with each match.”
Reliable serving is a big part of that. Against Mundelein, Matt Carmody used a jump serve for long stretches of the match. Meyer did as well. The Mustangs couldn’t return it, so Bears kept hitting it.
More Top Picks Best Cassette Air Conditioners
That’s been a winning formula all season.
“When [an opponent] can’t return [serve], it’s a good feeling. It gives us more confidence for the next one,” Meyer said.
Kerr is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter: @prepspioneer