Arman Zadeh, sports editor
The varsity boys volleyball team features a number of fresh new faces this season, including freshman Owen Lloyd and sophomore David Bina. With the help of these latest additions, the team is picking up right where it left off following a second round playoff exit last season and is aiming towards city championships. Inspiring this latest run, though, is no addition to the team’s starting lineup, but an addition to its bench.
An experienced high school volleyball coach and player himself, head coach Daryl Adams will lead this year’s volleyball squad in its journey to CIF. Adams was hired this year after he was introduced to the position at Beverly through student athletes who train with him privately, notably a member of Beverly’s girls volleyball team, Lena Shapiro.
Adams offers experience to the team not typical of most high school coaches. As a player, Adams was a two time outstanding defensive player of the year, twice a National All-American athlete and a two time silver medalist at the national level. In 2010, Adams coached his team to City Champions. Adams has been a member of 17 championship teams ranging from teams of private to national leagues. As a decorated coach and player, he immediately received high praise and respect from his new team.
“Daryl’s coached so much volleyball he has a sixth sense of the game,” varsity team member Matthew Sater said. “We’ve never seen his predictions be wrong so if Daryl tells us to do something, we do it because we know he knows best.”
Adams introduced his unique coaching style to Beverly believing that he and the team have what it takes for a deep playoff run.
“I believe that I have the talent here that definitely makes us league contenders. We have the power. We have the defense. We have the speed,” Adams said.
As a coach for developing players, Adams focuses on speed, agility and intelligence. These qualities, he says, help shorter players like himself compete in a game dominated by vertically gifted players.
The success teams have had in the past with Adams’ system, he believes, in part comes from the life lessons his players learn from the game.
“I really enjoy developing players, getting them ready not only for volleyball. My philosophy is: volleyball has a lot of life lessons,” Adams said. “Mental toughness, maturity, composure, commitment, and training and execution. These are all things that are very important to me and I believe are applicable to everyday life.”
Adams hopes to bring Beverly its first championship in boys volleyball in his first season with the team.