By Ryan Nagelhout Niagara Gazette The Niagara Gazette Wed Sep 21, 2011, 11:24 AM EDT
NIAGARA FALLS — Mike Dobmeier doesn’t exactly fit the mold of a volleyball setter.
“Short and stocky,” Dobmeier calls himself.
The mold he does fit is that of a leader, one the Niagara Falls Wolverines desperately need, according to coach Karyn Morrison.
“Mike Dobmeier is probably one of the greatest kids I’ve ever worked with,” Morrison said. “He’s the one who has to lead on the court and he leads all the way through.”
Though not fitting the typical profile of a setter, he is the undisputed captain of an undermanned and undersized Wolverines team. Though he looks like a football player, he takes command of the floor for the Falls at every opportunity.
“It’s a lot of hard work but I do it because I love it,” he said. “I’m not here to crush the ball like a lot of kids feel they have to, or to get recognized.”
While some play volleyball for thrill of the kill, Mike said taking the court is about more than just the big hit.
“I have more assists than anyone else,” he said. “Without me there would be no one to crush the ball.”
Morrison said Dobmeier has made coaching the Wolverines fun despite another year of struggles in the win column. With few returning players, the Wolverines have been a work in progress on the floor, but Dobmeier has stayed positive in his senior season.
“He understands where we’re coming from this year in that we’re kind of behind the eight ball,” Morrison said. “Some of his teammates we expected to be out here this year aren’t.”
Morrison said Dobmeier knows being a leader is about more than just statistics. While the coach called for a water break at practice last week, Dobmeier took aside the JV setter and offered instruction until they go back to scrimmaging. Then he set up the next game and offered praise, and criticism, on both sides of the net.
“I’ve always been taught by the older kids what to do, that’s why I’m so good,” he said. “They’ve showed me and helped make me a better player. I need to show younger kids how to get better.”
The importance of the setter on a volleyball team put Dobmeier there despite his other talents on the court. He can hit and serve as good as anyone on the team, but the captain needs to set up his teammates.
“Mike makes up in will what he doesn’t have in physical ability as a setter,” Morrison said. “Usually setters are skinny and can bounce all over the court. Mike looks like a football player, but he makes that up just in his will and desire to win.”
Dobmeier said his role this year is not only to win now, but get the young Wolverines ready for the future.
“There are kids out here who are smart and want to have fun,” Dobmeier said. “We lost a few kids because of other reasons, but we don’t need the best or tallest players out here to have fun. We just need people who want to win.”
Watch him on the volleyball court and it’s clear Dobmeier wants to win. But more importantly, he wants to win with this team.
“Every team I’ve ever been on has treated me like family,” Dobmeier said. “Even though we don’t win that many games, being out here with people you enjoy makes it so much better. I’d rather be on a losing team with a team like this than a winning team where no one gets along.”
Copyright 2011 Niagara Gazette. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment