Let the fun begin.
Oswego’s Sidney Hamaker understands there can be a fine line between the approach of serious business and having a good time when it comes to playing the sport she loves.
The 6-foot-1 junior has proved to be masterful in walking that line.
A middle hitter for Sports Performance in club, Hamaker will again swing over to the left side as an outside for the Panthers, who open up the 2023 high school season on Monday.
How’s she doing?
Well, Hamaker pounded out 324 kills and 57 aces with 45 digs and 37 blocks last season for the Panthers (18-18).
Also wooed by Clemson and California Santa Barbara during the club season, she verbally committed last month to Long Beach State after attending a camp at the school.
“They’re definitely very different,” Hamaker said of her two roles. “I feel like high school is a lot more fun, but it’s still got that intensity. I’m playing a whole new position and playing back row, which I never really did before.
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“Club is really challenging because I’m perfecting what I’m good at.”
She and her teammates at Sports Performance don’t tread lightly.
“I love it,” Hamaker said. “I know it’s not for everyone. I love the competitiveness around it — the strictness. I love how serious they are about it. Others seem more lax.”
Gary Mosley, in first year as Oswego’s coach, realizes he’s fortunate to have Hamaker as one of his building blocks on what should be an improved team.
Hamaker is joined by 6-foot senior middle Riley Borrowman, who is weighing several college offers but undecided at this point, and 6-0 outside Mia Jurkovic to give the Panthers a formidable front row.
Junior Ava Flanigan, a 5-11 setter, also returns.
“It’s a really good group of kids,” Mosley said. “They work together so well. They smile. They don’t complain.”
Mosley coached at all levels as an assistant for both girls and boys teams at Oswego before taking a two-year break. He returns this season, succeeding Julie Zeck, who departed due to a family move to Tennessee.
Long Beach State alumni, meanwhile, include tennis star Billie Jean King, late baseball great Tony Gwynn, volleyball star Misty May and rapper/pitch man Snoop Dogg.
That didn’t really seal it for Hamaker, however.
She said she “knew immediately” the school was for her when she reached the camp and was impressed by the program’s 37-year-old coach, Tyler Hildebrand, and his staff.
A graduate of the school, Hildebrand was a three-time All-American setter before playing professionally. He then went into coaching, with stints at his alma mater, USA volleyball and Nebraska. He’s coached both men and women as well as working with beach Olympians in Brazil and Tokyo. His first team at Long Beach State went 19-9.
Known as The Beach, the school’s women’s program has a storied history but has struggled since legendary coach Brian Gimmillaro stepped down in 2017 following a 32-year run that featured 27 NCAA Tournament appearances, three national titles, two runners-up and third place three times.
Long Beach State has only been to the NCAA tourney once since then, however, something Hamaker hopes to help change.
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Mosley looks forward to two full seasons with her on his team at Oswego.
“She’s a leader on the court,” he said. “She’s not so vocal. She really does her leading with her play. Her effort in practice is top notch. You never have to push her. She’ll take care of that.
“Man, she’s one of those kids who can thump the ball and really do her job at peak level. She will definitely lead us on the outside. She listens to everything I preach to her and is putting it to work and having fun.”