This month’s Senior Sports Spotlight is Neil Khalsa; a member of HCRHS’s Men’s Volleyball Team and an active participant in many other organizations around the school!
How long have you been playing volleyball? What is your role on the team?
I have been playing volleyball since my freshman year, and I started it in high school gym class and that’s what sparked my interest. For my position, I am a setter and I also play right side hitter on Varsity.
What are some of your goals for this year’s season?
I definitely want to have a successful season and want my team to get to the Skyland Conference Cup and advance to the finals and eventually the state playoffs. For me, I don’t want to be outcome focused. I want our team chemistry to be better and win and lose as a team. But, most importantly, I want to make the most out of this season.
What do you think is the biggest challenge your team will face this season?
I think our greatest challenge is emotions. As high school volleyball players, it’s hard to stay composed after every point, no matter if we are winning or losing. Sometimes our emotions can get the best of us.
What makes this year’s team special?
The fact that we have eight seniors on the team. This is the most amount of seniors there have been for the past four years and we make up half of the team. This makes it special because we’ve been together for four years and we know how to work together and set an example for the underclassmen.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
I’m looking forward to playing as a team and creating a welcoming atmosphere with collaboration that is more than just a good team, but a place where people can build connections.
As a senior, what would you like to teach some of the younger or incoming team members?
As a senior, I want to teach the younger team members the importance of communication on and off the court. Communication on the court is crucial, as volleyball is a sport where you need to collaborate with your teammates to be successful in a game. On the other hand, off the court, you build trust that can be used in the game and skills that can be applied in various aspects of your life.
How have you grown as a player since you first started on the team?
Since I’ve started on the team, I’ve learned to become more assertive on the court. When I started as a freshman, I let others make decisions for me and looked at my coach to lead the way. But now, as a senior, I’ve learned to make decisions independently and to turn to my coaches for validation instead of them telling me what to do. This has also reflected off the court and made me less introverted. It made it easier to approach others and spark up conversations with people I never thought I could interact with.
What other clubs/activities are you involved in at Central?
I am the Speech and Debate President, a Key Club Officer, the Mu Alpha Theta Secretary, a 3rd degree black belt instructor of Taekwondo, member of the Pit Orchestra, and a part of many more clubs at Central.
What do you plan on doing after you graduate? Any plans to continue volleyball after high school?
I plan on going to a four year college, though I’m not committed anywhere yet. I hope to major in supply chain management and eventually work in that field. While I’m not continuing volleyball in college, I hope to play at a club level and play it in my leisure time because it is not just a sport, but a hobby that is significant in my life.
With the seasoned leadership of HC’s seniors as well as their drive and passion for volleyball, the HC Boy’s Volleyball team is sure to make this season memorable. Make sure to check out their volleyball games this season, and support them with Central pride!
