Men's volleyball will become an official MSHSL sport in 2024-25
HERMANTOWN, Minn. — With a 3-0 record, the Proctor/Hermantown boys volleyball team has a lot to be excited about both this season and next season.
The Norseman has made a name for himself in the Northern Minnesota Conference since debuting in 2019. But next school year, they will compete as an official high school team for the first time, as the MSHSL approved boys volleyball as an official sport in 2024-2025.
“I hope it gets through to the kids,” head coach Ryan Wright said. “We're going to be handing out flyers this summer to all the places we think are hot spots. So I think we just need to get the word out.”
For the past three years, Proctor/Hermantown has been winning. “I got to know the kids better,” Wright said. “I know their weaknesses as well as their strengths. When you motivate them to work together as a team, they seem to work very well.”
“I like (Coach Wright’s) straightforwardness,” junior Pham Vo said. “(He) tells us the truth and pushes us to do our best.”
Like many players on the team, Vo started playing volleyball because she wanted a different experience. He said, “I thought the track was a little boring, so I wanted a change of pace.''
Few Scandinavians have found a better change of pace than international student Giovanni Serfini. He learned English by watching sitcoms during the coronavirus pandemic. friend. He joined the team with volleyball experience but knew he had some work to do.
“I played in Italy and I loved Italy,” Serfini explained. “But I wasn't very good and I didn't really fit in with the people there.”
“He's a really good kid. I was pretty sure the Italian came in and the ringer rang.” Coach Wright laughed. “But his skill level is intermediate (to) beginner. So we've been developing him as a middle, so he's made great strides both as a blocker and as an attacker.”
“Giovanni, he's a great guy,” Vo says. “He's a quick learner. He's very smart.”
“The team is really great,” Serifini smiled. “I was really nervous when I first came here. And they were really nice. Fam came up to me first and introduced himself, and then he introduced me to everyone else. So they're really kind.”
The Norse team is currently focused on getting back to the state tournament, but once the summer is over they will be gearing up for their first sanctioned season.
“I’m very excited,” Vo says. “Unfortunately, we are losing a few seniors. But I'm excited for the future year.”
Men's volleyball is about to gain even more attention in Minnesota, and Coach Wright hopes fans will give the sport its fair share of recognition.
“This is not just a girls' sport,” Wright explained. “Volleyball is her fifth (most) watched sport on the planet. Yeah, that's big lol.”
Proctor/Hermantown is scheduled to play Bemidji at home on Thursday before finishing the regular season with three consecutive road games.