Jeremiah Boyd and Shea Gallagher are noticing a different atmosphere in the gymnasium for the Rhinebeck High School extramural volleyball program. The Hawks have improved their skills from a year ago; the team is playing best-of-five set dual matches for the first time, and they’re playing in front of fans.
The Hawks are in the middle of their season, which consists of dual matches against Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, Port Jervis, Middletown and James I. O’Neill before a championship tournament on March 22.
The previous three years, the teams competed in multi-team scrimmages with no fans watching.
“The atmosphere was incredible for our first match against FDR,” said Boyd. “After every point and big play, we all grouped up together and the celebration was something I haven’t been a part of before. It’s super inspiring and it helps me throughout the match.”
Gallagher added, “The gym being loud really helps the energy of the play.”
The Hawks have 14 players on the roster, led by seniors Boyd and Gallagher; and juniors Harry Whidbe, Mason Decker and Greg Reed. Rhinebeck plays a 6-2 offense, meaning all six players on the floor are hitters in a two-setter offense.
“The players have improved so much in the last month considering we have only practiced a couple of times a week, starting in January,” said coach David Gallagher. “It shows their commitment, hard work and willingness to listen and learn in practice.”
The National Federation of High School Sports reported that boys volleyball is the fastest growing team sport nationally over the last five years. In 2023-2024, 85,255 boys played high school boys volleyball, an increase of nearly 8,000 from the previous school year.
In 2010, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association introduced its state championship tournament for boys volleyball.
Boyd and Gallagher share the same wish for the future of the program.
“I would love to see it become a varsity sport,” said Gallagher. “I think boys volleyball is growing in Rhinebeck and in other schools, so it could become a varsity sport.”