Wichita boys’ volleyball club shines on the national stage

WICHITA, Kansas (KSNW) – After two years of team development, the FSC Cougars boys volleyball team has qualified for the national stage.

“The journey of getting to Nationals with my whole team. This is one of the greatest days of my life. We worked really hard to make this happen. Really, really hard,” said outside hitter Derrick Turner.

The hard work paid off. The boys took fifth place at the USAV Boys National Tournament.

“I think that’s a great accomplishment for a team that’s been around for three years,” said head coach David Ramirez. “And we’re playing against teams where the kids have been playing since seventh grade or something. A huge accomplishment for these guys, and it’s really a credit to them for working together.”

Over the years, the group has grown from a handful of players to two teams of eight. The boys have discovered a passion for a sport they cannot play at Kansas high schools.

“I always watched my sister play, and when I finally got the opportunity to play the sport with people who were interested in it like me, it really intrigued me. And I feel like I fit in really well with this team. We’re all really dedicated and strive to work on our craft and our spot,” said Ethan Tolin, a setter and right attacker on the team who also attends Sedgwick High School.

“I never knew I liked volleyball, and that’s how I actually started playing. I didn’t really know until David came and told me to start playing volleyball,” added Turner, who attends the school in Wichita Heights.

The small group must bring each other to a competitive level.

“It’s a really tough environment for us because it’s not Wichita. There’s really no opportunities to play volleyball at all. So as an outside hitter, I’m not just a hitter. I’m a passer. I’m also a setter. So I can teach myself all of those skills. And then I have to bring them out on the field and help my team,” Turner explained.

The club’s next goal is to win gold at the national championships next year, but to achieve that, they want more people to try the sport and get on the dance floor.

“With some really ambitious seniors leaving us, the first thing we need to do is fill those spots and find people who are ready to take on that role. We have some new people here today and it’s just a lot of fun to see new faces, learn new people’s names and see their talents and watch them grow over the years,” Tolin explained.

Click here to view the club’s open gym schedule.