THE MARIN CATHOLIC HIGH boys volleyball team is a tight-knit group. Take, for example, Chris Ward and Connor McKeogh.
Ward, a senior, and the junior McKeogh have each played soccer, basketball and volleyball at the school so it’s safe to say they have good chemistry no matter what the playing surface may be.
“Chris is a really great person,” McKeogh said. “He’s got really good people skills and he’s a really good leader. That’s something I strive to be.”
While McKeogh will have another year to take control of the team, Ward is in his final voyage with the Wildcats and he doesn’t take that lightly.
“Both of us understand that this is our last year together,” Ward said. “We know that we have to make the most of that and push ourselves. … We’re hoping to set the standard of what Marin Catholic volleyball can be.”
The Wildcats get even more familiar when you look at the youth on the team and find McKeogh’s younger brother, Sean.
“I really wanted him to try it out,” McKeogh said of his freshman brother who is already 6 feet, 4 inches tall.
As to why he and his brother have migrated to the sport, it’s all about a different feel.
“I like the atmosphere around it,” McKeogh said. “Compared to basketball, which is really intense, it’s looser and I have a lot of fun.”
One of the unique things about boys volleyball as pointed out by Ward is that the high level of familiarity between players runs throughout the whole sport, not just any one team.
“We all know each other so well because it’s such a small program,” Ward said.
Ward points out the example in Drake High’s 2013 first-team all-league player Sam Dines, whom Ward said he has “played soccer and basketball against since fourth grade.”
Ward also played for the under-19 Absolute Volleyball team during the summer where he joined forces with players from all over the MCAL.
Another example of the close ties is Marin Catholic’s James Pelfini who McKeogh said, “has been more of a contributor this year and has really been pushing us.”
Pelfini is the cousin of Redwood High standout Matt Pelfini and the interconnected nature of the teams around the league helps fuel rivalries.
“I just really like it,” McKeogh said. “We get to know each other really well and it drives you on a more personal level.”
“It makes every game more personal,” Ward echoed. “When you practice and play against your own teammates, it’s kind of like that.”
Now the Wildcats will try to focus all of their attention on finishing this year with a bang.
“Since my freshman year we’ve always been in the top four teams,” Ward said. “And this year we want to be right back in the top four.”
McKeogh felt the same way and added, “When we come together, we’re just as good as other teams.”
Contact Brian Sanchez via email at bsanchez@marinij.com
