CAMDEN — In some ways, the boys' volleyball players at Caesar Rodney High School are still learning the fundamentals of the sport.
After all, this is only the Riders' second season in the varsity program.
But coach Jake Bloom also doesn't want his players to sell themselves short.
With a 13-2 record and a No. 5 seed, he thinks they should want to do more than just make the DIAA state tournament.
“Even though it was only our second year, we knew we had a pretty solid program with players,” Bloom said. “From day one, our goal was always to not only make state, but compete at state.
“It's easy to take this big leap (from the first season) and be happy about it. But that's not our goal. I think our players are hungry to keep pushing.”
Tonight, CR will have a chance to pick up the program's first state championship win when it hosts No. 12 Smyrna (8-7) at 6 p.m.
The Eagles have appeared in the tournament in all three seasons since its inception, winning in the first round last spring.
The Riders won both regular-season meetings with Smyrna, winning 3-1 and then 3-0. Three of the seven games were decided by three points or less.
Bloom knows this game will be a little different since it's their third matchup of the season.
“We're definitely going to have our hands full,” he said. “They (Eagles) are going to be hungry and want to get a little revenge on us.
“We've got to bring it. It's important that we continue to use the game plan that has been successful all year: play clean volleyball and take advantage of opportunities when they arise.”
CR has already won seven games more than last season, when they finished 6-13. The Riders' two losses this year were both to defending state champion Cape Henlopen (12-2), the third seed in the tournament.
In the last match, CR won one game and the remaining two games were decided by just two points.
“At the end of the day, the talent can be there,” Bloom said. “But you have to have that feeling for each other on the court. Sometimes that can be difficult to develop in a few months.
“We're going to give it our all. As long as we're committed to playing at a high level, we're going to go wherever the ball bounces.”
Henlopen title game
North champion Polytech (10-1-2) will play south winner Sussex Academy (10-3-1) in the Henlopen Conference women's soccer championship game Thursday at 6 p.m.
The Seahawks were tied with Del Mar and Indian River for the South title, but the tiebreaker earned them a spot in the championship game.
In last year's Henlopen title game, the Panthers defeated the Seahawks 2-1. However, the Seahawks defeated Polytech 4-0 on April 11.
In Henlopen's other championship games, according to the original schedule, northern champion Sussex Tech (14-2) will face southern champion Del Mar (10-6) on Friday at 4:15 p.m. On the schedule, the Ravens defeated the Wildcats 11-1. , April 9th.
In softball, Sussex Central (14-2) will play Lake Forest (14-2) on Friday at 4 p.m. The Golden Knights defeated the Spartans 6-2 on April 16.
The Henlopen boys lacrosse championship game will be played Saturday at noon between Cape Henlopen (11-3) and Sussex Academy (7-7).
The Henlopen North South golf game between Caesar Rodney and Sussex Academy is scheduled for Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at Baywood Greens, and the Henlopen Tournament will be held May 20 at Kings Creek. Ru.
additional points
- The second day of the Henlopen Conference Track & Field Championships was canceled Friday due to rain and was scheduled to be held Monday night.
- Five of the top nine teams in this week's Delaware Interscholastic Baseball Coaches Association poll are from Henlopen North. Sussex Central, Sussex Tech and Cape Henlopen round out the top three spots, with Caesar Rodney in eighth and Dover in ninth.
- Six of Henlopen North's eight teams have reached 11 wins so far this season.
- Two of the star players on Dover High School's state champion boys basketball team have announced their college commitments. denim perkins While heading to Wilmington University drell little He will play at Florida Memorial University.
- Salesianum remains the favorite to win the boys lacrosse state title, but last week Archmere defeated Caesar Rodney and Cape Henlopen by a combined score of 24-7 in three days.
- Sallies (11-2) was ranked as high as No. 4 nationally in the U.S. Lacrosse Rankings, but is now No. 6.
- Dover's football schedule for next fall currently only has eight games listed. The senator has previously competed in nonconference races against Apokiniming, Salesianum and William Penn.
