Lone 2009 loss serves as lesson for Mustangs
Shadow Ridge’s boys volleyball team finished last season with a 21-1 record. That single loss might prove most beneficial this season.
The Mustangs were one of many victims of Palo Verde’s surprising run to the Class 4A state championship, and that blot on an otherwise perfect record is especially instructive.
“Ultimately, while we lost and Palo Verde was an outstanding team at the end of the year, our players learned an invaluable lesson that no other team is ever going to have,” Shadow Ridge coach Christian Augustin said.
“Going undefeated ... it’s something that I think happens once every seven or eight years — it’s a rarity. But that experience they now have I think is going to be invaluable for tough, close games this year.”
Senior opposite hitter Jake Shea, a second-team All-Northwest League pick and the team’s top returnee in most statistical categories (he had 24 aces), will try to lead the Mustangs to a state title just as older brother Josh Shea did in 2007.
“I’ve always played against him, but people now know me as Jake instead of Josh’s little brother,” the younger Shea said. “I’m more my own name now.
“I just want to play the best I can. I don’t really care about awards or anything.”
The brothers couldn’t be more different in their on-court disposition, said Augustin, who coached both.
“(Jake) is very calm on the court, but his brother wasn’t,” Augustin said. “His brother was the complete opposite, all about emotion. But Jake is calm, and he just doesn’t want to lose.
“He leads by example in everything he does, and he understands that. ... Players look up to him simply because of his demeanor.”
On a team that has six other seniors, including setter Jeremy Makaiwi (710 assists last year), Shea doesn’t need to be constantly imparting lessons.
“I’d say we have a lot of experience on our side,” said Shea, who blasted 164 kills last year for an average of 2.93 per game. “I don’t think we’ll make a lot of freshman mistakes.”
Middle blocker Taylor Lancaster (62 kills as a junior) also will play a big role.
“He has to step up for us to be successful, and he understands that,” Augustin said. “But we operate as a real strong team component. We don’t get athletes that certain schools do. So we have to really be a team that operates real cohesively.”
Taking on leadership responsibilities has gone smoothly, Lancaster said.
“It’s been a little easier than I thought to become a leader and more of a go-to player,” the senior said. “But it definitely takes a lot of patience to work with the younger guys.”
Friendship and chemistry could give the Mustangs a chance to finish what they started last season.
“Most of us are best friends — we hang out on and off the court,” Lancaster said. “I think we’re going to have really good chemistry. We have a lot of experience, especially because most of our starters have played club (volleyball). I think we’ll have an edge on a lot of teams as far as experience and the level of competition.”
