The boys varsity season of volleyball is kicking off once again, this time with a somber twist; Head Coach George Dressen is retiring from coaching this season. Here’s all you need to know about the upcoming season, as well as some wise words from Coach Dressen.
Dressen hopes to win at least 20 matches this season and be able to play in the state series. Senior Andrew Jimenez, one of the team’s middle blockers, commented that most of the teams that the Mustangs have played were not super challenging. “We haven’t faced [many] super challenging teams. But I’m excited to play more difficult teams.”
The Mustangs project that the season will turn out to be a successful one if they keep up their drive and effort. “We have a lot of good players that have the potential to do good things this season,” Jimenez said.
Captain Rance Cruz, libero, noted that the varsity team this year has lots of younger players than before. “Right now, what we’re doing is building a foundation for the coming years, especially with a freshman on the varsity team who has the potential to do great things.”
One thing that is agreed upon that the team is doing well is comradery. Dressen said the team excels at “[p]laying as a true team.”
In addition to this, Jimenez, Cruz, and Ian Grandt all said that the team is excelling this year at being connected and closer together. “We all really like each other,” Cruz said, adding that the team feels more connected this year than previous years. “We were close in previous years, but this year I feel like we’re even closer.”
One thing Grandt wants to work on is being able to do his part more consistently. “[I want to] just give the best ball I can to each and every hitter so they can smash it and we have a great time and win.”
Jimenez commented that the team still needs to work on fundamentals for the coming teams, given that the teams are filled with younger players and the seniors want to give the younger players foundations to do the same for the coming teams.
“I think my biggest takeaway… is ‘I am my worst enemy’ and we’re learning that all these new teammates get in their head a little bit, and I just want them to learn they could do so many great things as long as they get past that mental block,” Cruz said.
Dressen said that he wants his team to work on being able to block incoming hits more consistently, as well as being able to
Jimenez’s favorite part of the game is the communal aspect. “When you’re facing a super difficult team and you have some super clutch save or a cool kill, the energy you feel from the crowd and your team and everyone else, it’s definitely a really good feeling.”
Grandt’s favorite part is being able to do his part as a setter to ensure the team’s success, such as “giving butter sets” to the hitters to kill the ball.
“I think my favorite part of the game is the team itself. I think all the people are really cool, really funny, so hanging out with them [is my favorite part.] Especially with it being my senior year, I want it to be a memorable [year],” Cruz stated about the team.
The team has advice for players who want to play at a higher level or to play in general.
“You need to have talent, but what’s just as important is being a good teammate. Attitude is a big thing, especially at the varsity level. We want [players] to be really good at volleyball, but we want them to be good people as well,” said Cruz.
Jimenez said that, “[a]bove talent is effort.” He commented that players should give 110% at every single opportunity, whether it be a game or a practice.
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard,” Grandt said, adding that you should want to be able to play better, at practice, during games, and on your own time.
Dressen added that players should also go to volleyball camps and open gyms, such as ones offered at school, to hone skills and to perform better during the season.
This season will be Coach Dressen’s last. Dressen said that the season being his last has eluded him. “To be honest, it has not sunk in yet.” Dressen has coached for a total of 35 years in the school; 30 years in the girl’s program, 18 of which as head coach, and 25 as the head coach for the boy’s program. All seasons are memorable to him, but he said one stuck out to him the most. “The 2007 boys teams [were the most memorable], when we went 36-2 and finished 5th in the State,” remarked Dressen.
With the boys’ team feeling the closest they have ever felt to date, and the head coach saying his goodbyes, the 2026 season will be one for the history books of the school. We at MHS wish the boys a great season and we thank Coach Dressen for all he has done for both the girls and boys programs as the head coach.