The volleyball program put on its annual Bro-Ball tournament in the gym last Wednesday. During the tournament, teams of boys from each grade play in a tournament against each other in rounds, ultimately leading to a final champion. Each team prepared for the tournament with practices where volleyball players from each grade coached their Bro-Ball competitors on basic plays and serving. The competition serves as a fundraiser for the volleyball program as the players each pay a fee to be able to pay and tickets were additionally sold at the door for spectators to watch the matches.

For senior Ben Martinez, the tournament provided a chance to play with friends that he’s made over his four years at McCallum.

“Playing with my friends was definitely a highlight,” Martinez said. “Some of the people I was really close with, but some of the other people I didn’t know that well. It was nice to get closer with some people too.”

Bonding time began with the practices before the tournament, and a few of the guys decided to use some of their own time outside of practice to hone their skills.

“We just had some practices,” Martinez said. “Then me and some of the guys on the team played beach volleyball a couple times, which I think helped.”

After losing to the sophomore class when they were juniors last year, the senior team felt like they avenged a loss while also having fun along the way.

“Winning was super fun,” Martinez said. “I feel like we definitely deserved it.”

Caption by Arwen Pelletier. Photos by Daniela Di-Capua, Riley Pita and Vera Petrowsky.

Gallery • 13 Photos

Kaylee Breecker

BALLERS AND BROTHERS: Junior Tristen Wright surges into the air to slam the ball during a Bro Ball scrimmage on April 23, avoiding the opponent's block and scoring. After playing his freshman and sophomore years as well, Wright said he was ready to follow the same success of the past as the sophomore team took home the Bro-Ball Champion title. Wright said that aside from the competition, he joined Bro-Ball again this year to spend time with his friends and teammates. “I joined Bro Ball just to have fun,” Wright said. “I think I bring athleticism and someone you can count on who has experience from past years.” Caption by Kaylee Beecker.

JUST BROS HAVING A BALL: Junior Dylan Fissel jumps to block the spike from junior Tristen Wright at Bro-Ball’s after-school practice on April 23. 

Fissel got his start in volleyball while living in San Antonio in middle school, when he would play beach volleyball with his mother. With these fond memories in mind and urging from his friends, he signed up for Bro-Ball and said it has been a great experience. 

“It’s like a get-together with friends or a sleepover,” Fissel said. “You can’t have a bad time.” 

Caption and photo by Hannah Kahn.

TAKE THE COURT: Freshman Max Marcus soars to spike the ball during a hitting lines drill at practice on April 23. 

Marcus has played volleyball for a year outside of school, at Austin Junior Volleyball, and quickly showcased his skills during practice. The team and coaches were impressed by Marcus’ athleticism, particularly his hitting ability, which earned him the position of starting outside hitter for the freshman team. 

Aside from the sport itself, Marcus said Bro-Ball allowed him to forge new friendships with his teammates. 

“I think the team has made such a bond this year.” Marcus said. “That’s the biggest thing.”

Caption and photo by Kaylee Breecker.

SET FOR SUCCESS: Senior Benjamin Martinez, the setter for the senior A team, sets the ball up for a hitter to hit the ball to the other side. 

The senior A team beat the senior B team and moved on to beat the juniors and win the whole tournament. 

While Bro-Ball is about playing volleyball Martinez said that meeting new people was one of the best parts.

 “Some of the people on the team were my friends, but some of them I wasn’t super well acquainted with, so getting closer with the other people was nice,” Martinez said. 

Caption and photo by Vera Petrowsky.

ROLES REVERSED: Juniors Isa Urbina and Nella Ibsen coach the junior boys’ team through the championship game during the Bro-Ball tournament against the senior A team on Wednesday. Unfortunately for the juniors, it ended in a straight set loss. 

Urbina has coached Bro-Ball freshman and junior year and has loved it both years. 

“I love the energy and the huddles,” she said. “It’s fun having high energy and being proud when they do good. It just makes it even more fun when the guys really get into it.”

 All the junior coaches put in time and effort to make the shirts and jerseys as they decorated them with their graduation year and painted them with white and pink paint.

Caption and photo by Piper Adair.

SERVING UNDER PRESSURE: Freshman Graham Thompson prepares to serve the ball to the other side during the match against the junior boys’ team. 

Thompson said despite only a little practice, he managed to make his serve over the net and get the play off to a good start. 

“When it was my turn to go up to serve it was always a little nerve racking,” Thompson said. “I didn’t want to mess up.”

The juniors ended up dominating with their powerful spikes and managed to take the win against the freshmen; however Thompson still managed to be a key player in the game and score some points for his team.

Caption and photo by Ashtyn Gunning.

CORRECTIONS ARE KEY: Senior Sophie Koch pushes her hands out to demonstrate a block for her players on the senior B team during the Bro-Ball tournament on Wednesday. 

The senior B team played three games throughout the tournament and won against the freshman but lost to the sophomores and the senior A team. 

As a senior, Koch has been a coach for her entire high school career, but this year was special since it was her last year. 

Koch said it was exciting for the senior class to take home the championship title this year as the senior A team won the tournament.

“We have been close [to winning] a couple of times, but this was our grade’s first time winning so it was super fun.” Koch said.

Caption and photo by Vera Petrowsky.

SENIOR VICTORY: Senior Mark Sanchez posing with junior Cooper Hensley for Sanchez’s last ever Bro-Ball Tournament. 

Sanchez said he has enjoyed the tournaments over the years and hanging out with friends and competing. 

“It will definitely be one of the things I miss when I go to college at WashU next year,” Sanchez said. 

Although Sanchez said he cherishes lots of moments over the years, this year has been his favorite because the seniors took home the win. 

Caption and photo by Dylan Hopper.

BIRDS EYE VIEW: Freshman Jennie Thomason prepares to officiate a match as a referee for the Bro-Ball tournament held on Wednesday. 

Thomason said it was cool to be able to get the perspective of a referee as a volleyball player. 

“I enjoyed getting to introduce people to the sport I love, and especially getting to take a role in volleyball that normally I would never take since I’m a player,” Thomason said. 

Even though the freshman team didn’t win any of their games, Thomason said she was still proud of her team for how quickly they learned a new sport. 

 “I think the guys did really well considering most of them had never played before,” Thomason said. “I was proud of the progress they made over a couple practices.” 

Caption and photo by Anais Long.

PUTTING UP A GOOD FIGHT: Freshman Jasper Williams shakes the other team’s hands after an intense game of volleyball against the junior boy’s team, ultimately ending in a loss for the freshmen. 

As a freshman, this was Williams’s first year doing Bro-Ball and said he was a bit nervous leading up to the first match. 

“I was a little nervous at first because we hadn’t had much time to practice,” Jasper said. “I heard about it, then did it to support the volleyball program and have fun.”

In the end, despite their loss, the freshmen coaches said they were still proud of the effort the team put in. 

Caption and photo by Anais Long.

FROM PLAYING TO COACHING: Freshman Harriet Zettner leads a huddle with the freshman boys team as they prepare to play against the junior boys team during the Bro-Ball tournament held on Wednesday. 

Zettner said she was thrilled to be able to coach the team this year, and appreciated the opportunity to look at the sport from a coach’s perspective. 

 “Coaching was really fun, especially because I also got to work with some of the other girls in volleyball I usually wouldn’t talk to,” Zettner said. “I also got to experience being on the sidelines.” 

Despite the freshmen ultimately losing against the junior team, Zettner said she was still proud of the team for playing their hardest and said that the team showed major improvement from when they started to the final game. 

“Even though we didn’t win, I think our team played very well,” Zettner said. “They went out there and put in their all. That’s all that really matters.” 

Caption and photo by Anais Long.

BALLERS AND BROTHERS: Junior Tristen Wright surges into the air to slam the ball during a Bro-Ball scrimmage on April 23, avoiding the opponent’s block and scoring. 

After playing his freshman and sophomore years as well, Wright said he was ready to follow the same success of the past as the sophomore team took home the Bro-Ball Champion title. 

Wright said that aside from the competition, he joined Bro-Ball again this year to spend time with his friends and teammates.

 “I joined Bro-Ball just to have fun,” Wright said. “I think I bring athleticism and someone you can count on who has experience from past years.” 

Caption and photo by Kaylee Beecker.

SWEAT AND SUCCESS: Hurling himself into the air, freshman Livingston Reed sends the ball over the net at the Bro-Ball scrimmage on April 23.  

Reed said he appreciated the workout Bro-Ball involves, but above all, the community it brings.

 “It’s very enjoyable,” Reed says. “I like the team work—making people work together, and I like the girls’ volleyball team – they’re very nice people.” 

Although the freshmen ended up losing in the first round during the tournament last Wednesday, Reed said he still had fun and is looking forward to next year’s season. 

Caption and photo by Hannah Kahn.

FLYING HIGH: Senior Devon Robinson sets up to block the ball during the championship game between the juniors and the seniors. 

The juniors attempted a comeback against the seniors during the second set; however, the seniors took the win in the end, winning the entire tournament.

As a football player, Robinson said it took a lot of effort to have to learn a whole new sport in order to prepare for the tournament. 

 “The hardest part was the practices leading up to the game, and having to learn a new game,” Robinson said. 

Caption and photo by Piper Adair.