The Cordova varsity boys’ volleyball team was honored during its recent awards banquet on May 22.

 

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) – During the Cordova Lancers volleyball program’s annual postseason awards banquet May 22 inside the Cordova High School auxiliary gym, head coach Joseph Smith spoke glowingly about each player on the varsity roster.

Friends, family and supporters of the players on each of the freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams attended as the coaches from each team recognized their teams and individual players for their hard work this season.

Smith provided positive remarks about each of his players while handing out awards certificates and team letters. 

After recognizing the team as a whole, Smith passed out his individual player awards for the year. Perhaps the most prestigious award, Team MVP went to senior setter Grant Carr.

Carr, who hadn’t played setter with regularity before this season, was a steadying force on the Lancers’ roster, and earned the award with strong play and even stronger work ethic this season. 

“Grant came in with his training being as a middle blocker,” Smith said. “He’s played a few years in club that way and we needed something else from him. We didn’t have a setter this year, so coming into this year, we were kind of scrambling and trying to figure out who was going to take that mantle and Grant slid in perfectly. He was a physical force on the court and would do anything we needed him to. He is a hard worker and his skill combined with that hard work just made it undeniable.”

From left, Junior Renat Petrashishin and senior Ali Aljanabi were all smiles after receiving individual awards for their strong play this season.

Senior outside hitter Ali Aljanabi was given two awards during the ceremony, Most Inspirational and the Coaches’ Award. When asked about the impact Aljanabi had on the program, Smith was very complimentary of the standout upperclassman.

“Ali was the heart of our team,” Smith said. “He kept everybody moving forward and had a strong desire to know how to lead each individual on the court. It wasn’t just a one-size-fits-all in his mind; he understood that. He’s a leader.”

Lastly, junior libero Renat Petrashishin took home the teams’ Most Improved award based on his progress throughout the year as a first-year varsity player.

“Coming in as a former junior varsity player into a starting varsity libero role is a big shift. I think he was a little nervous at the beginning but as he understood my system and figured out his positioning, he was fast enough to handle all the things that were coming at him. He just became more and more confident.”

It was also announced that both Carr and Aljanabi were recognized by opposing coaches within the Metro League, as both players were given All-Metro team honors as voted on by the Lancers’ league opponents. 

Overall, the event went a long way in honoring the hard work put in by a great group of student athletes. The teams and coaches are already excited for next season, which will be their second in Metro League play.