“We had a good win at Bayport-Blue Point, and they’re playing awesome,” said Josh Brussell, the head coach of the Bonac boys volleyball team. They swept their first two matches of the season, beating Bayport-Blue Point, 3-0, on the road on Sept. 1 and Center Moriches, 3-0, at home last Thursday.
“This team, more than any team I’ve had in a long time, is playing together,”
he said. “There are little things we have to work on. We all think we can do what we want, but when we stick to our plan, we’re more successful. And I think they’re learning that right now.”
East Hampton won its first match, 25-17, 25-11, 25-13, and beat Center Moriches, 25-14, 25-13, 25-19.
“I think that our serving, even though it didn’t look great today, is better,” Brussell said after the Bonackers’ second win. “The only reason the serving is bad, I think, is because they were like, ‘We can get aces today.’ ”
Brussell, who likes to be mindful and share mantras with his team, imparted the wisdom of Yoda with the boys when it comes to serving: “Do or do not. There is no try.”
“Trying is a process, but it’s not an outcome. You can’t control the outcome. You can’t say, ‘I tried.’ You didn’t do it, which is fine. It just means how are we going to do it right next time?” he said. “You don’t need to try to get aces. We get them. We don’t try for them. You’re going to get them anyway if you get a good serve. I think it’s just a mental game.”
Brussell has learned a lot from Kerri Walsh Jennings, the Olympic gold medalist, with whom he partnered at the Hero Volley festival in Montauk over the summer. He has introduced several of her philosophies and practices to the team.
“Definitely focus. We do this whole breathing thing and yoga thing before. We’re trying to incorporate that and I’m trying to incorporate the selflessness. That’s where we’re going with it. We’re in this together. We’ve got 20 guys and we’re all in this game. Three coaches, 17 guys, and that’s where we’re going with this.”
While they’re working on functioning as a cohesive unit and putting the team first, some players are already outperforming expectations.
“This season, Miles [Eckardt] has been incredible. What he’s done from last year to this year — and the kid smiles now. And he’s coachable,” Brussell said. “Adrian Bello has played every position that I’ve asked him to and he just goes no matter what. And I think that’s absolutely insane. Those two really stand out for me. The other guys are amazing as well, but those two made the most improvement, without a doubt.”
As for the season ahead, don’t be surprised if these Bonackers keep on winning. Brussell thinks they have infinite potential.
“Physically, I think we might be better than we’ve ever been. It’s really fun.”
