To view photos of Pennsbury’s alumni game, visit the photo gallery by clicking on the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/
FAIRLESS HILLS – Justin Fee couldn’t believe his eyes when he walked into the gym for last Thursday night’s alumni game. There to greet the Pennsbury volleyball coach were 30 former players eager to get back on the court and show their stuff.“It was really overwhelming looking around the gym,” Fee said. “It was unbelievable.
“I couldn’t believe how many people actually showed up from such a wide generation. I was talking to one of our players who’s a junior, and he said, ‘I was born in 1991, and he (one of the alumni) played in 1991.’ It was neat. We had people from the start of the program to the current players.”
Fee himself played in the 1991 through 1994 seasons. Thursday’s game - which raised $635 for the Special Olympics - was organized by Falcon assistant Mike Falter, himself an alum of the program.
The list was a who’s who of former Pennsbury players and included 2008 stars Tor Covello, who is now playing at Penn State, and Ryan Bigos.
At the opposite end of the spectrum was 1991 grad Jason Burton, a football player who was encouraged by then coach Ray Engle to give volleyball a try.
“He went around checked out the middle school and junior high gym classes and saw guys that might be willing to dive around a little bit,” Burton said.
Burton didn’t make the team as a sophomore, but he did as a junior.“I loved it,” he said. “It’s my favorite sport still.”
Although Burton went on to play collegiate football at Franklin and Marshall, he could not walk away from volleyball and played on F&M’s club team. He continued to play when he was out of college.
“I can’t wait to get my seven-year-old playing,” he said. “The level of play today is unbelievable.”
Burton noticed several major rule changes since his playing days.
“The serve couldn’t hit the net back when we played,” he said. “You had to underhand pass everything - no overhand receiving. We didn’t have rally scoring, and we never had a libero. There are huge differences.”
Tim Cole was a first team all-state setter for the 2001 and 2002 squads. He went on to play libero at Juniata and played professionally overseas.
“It’s fantastic just because the game has changed a lot over the years,” said Cole. “There are guys out there asking what the rules are – rally scoring, the libero.
“Despite the changes to the game – I thought we had the best team ever in ’02, and the team this year would have kicked our butts.”
Pennsbury senior co-captain Noah Prickett isn’t so sure. He was in awe as he watched the alums.
“I just wanted to sit down and watch,” he said. “I was like, ‘I don’t even belong out here. They are so good.’
“They teach you what you have to do. It’s like a big family. It was awesome. This is something they should definitely keep doing. It’s a lot of fun.”
Numerous Pennsbury players have entered the coaching ranks, including Kevin Roode, who is an assistant at Neshaminy, Council Rock South boys’ and girls’ coach Scott Hibbs as well as Rock South assistant Mike Collins.
“It stems from a lineage of coaches we have had,” Cole said. “I was in the (Tim) Paulson era. Coach Fee has taken everything and put his spin on it and run with it.
“The program has developed so much. They’re getting better athletes, and the kids play year round – it’s fantastic. There weren’t many guys that played college ball when I was in high school. Since then, there’s a guy every year going on to play.”
But it doesn’t end with college. For the alums at Thursday night’s game, volleyball is a lifetime sport.
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