Player versatility spikes Brockton volleyball

Eases the loss of key players

Chinu Yang sets the ball for a teammate during a volleyball practice Monday at the Brockton High School gym. To help the team, Yang was shifted from his prime position as the team's defensive specialist, a libero, to setter. (Justine Hunt/Globe Staff)

T here were moments during the practice session for the Brockton High boys' volleyball team in which seniors Chris Chin and Chinu Yang looked like they could take on their teammates all by themselves.

One serving drill pitted Chin and Yang against teammates. Chin dove toward the net, his ponytail flapping behind him. Yang attacked the net by lifting his 5-foot-2-inch frame nearly 30 inches off the ground.

When their time ended, Chin and Yang were replaced by two teammates who looked equally impressive. That is not a surprise to Brockton coach Jack Olson. This season, his players have had to be the equivalent of interchangeable parts to fill the void left by a couple of key players who were academically ineligible.

The Boxers started the week with an impressive 9-2 mark, which Chin credits to "teamwork and hustle," he said.

In one key move, Yang was shifted from his prime position as the team's defensive specialist, a libero, to setter.

Chin, a 5-foot-10-inch outside hitter who has played volleyball with Yang since middle school, said Yang was the perfect choice to move to setter.

"I knew he could handle it," Chin said. "He has the leadership to get us the ball and knows the best time to make the play."

Closing in on 1,000 career digs, Yang is an outstanding libero. His younger brother, Stephen, a junior, has stepped in capably at the defensive position.

Defense is not far from Chinu Yang's mind and he still is expected to reach 1,000 career digs. Yang said his height leaves Brockton vulnerable when he rotates to the front row, but Olson said the team works around it and finds a way to drop Yang back to handle digs.

"To me, he's the best defensive player we've ever had," said Olson, who is in his 20th season as coach. "If we can get him to play a more defensive role, it helps us. He was fine with it because he was the best candidate."

The front row has been an area in which Brockton could use a little height. Olson said his team may be among the smaller squads around the area with only one player measuring 6 feet tall. The coach said that in a recent league match, Brockton's opponent consistently had on its front row three players taller than 6 feet.

"We're not the biggest but they all have specific jobs that really keep them focused," Olson said of his players.

Chin powers the Boxers with his outstanding serving ability. As a sophomore, he converted 97 percent of serves and, in an attempt to maintain that percentage, became almost obsessed with accuracy and prowess, watching videos and practicing constantly.

His season percentages have not dropped below 95 and he has done it all using a jump serve, which could lend itself to more errors.

"I just don't like to miss," Chin said.

This season, he has 32 aces and is eyeing the school records for both a season and career.

"His serves are crazy," Yang said. "They have a lot of top spin and a lot of players can't handle it."

Other players are contributing, too. Huy Tran, a third-year player who helped out at setter last year, is showing his defensive skills this season; Ted Desrouleaux, at 6 feet tall, provides versatility on the front row; and middle hitter McCoy Arnoux, first-year varsity player Christian Acosta, and Josiah Bell-Hilliard are all stepping forward.

The Boxers have their eyes on the state tournament, but the group also is eight wins shy of reaching 250 wins in the program's history.

No matter what has happened this season, Chin said, Brockton can achieve its goals.

"We know what we have lost from the start of the season to the middle of the season, and we have to play great as a team," Chin said.

The Boxers' focus is on returning to the state tournament and putting up a better showing than last season, when a 13-6 Brockton squad suffered a 3-0 loss to Catholic Memorial in the South sectional quarterfinals.

Olson said losing players to academic ineligibility is a disappointment but his team has to continue on. "We could have fallen apart and just said forget it, but they didn't do that."

Monique Walker can be reached at mwalker@globe.com.