Fans get hyped up about volleyball during Sherwood's regional final victory. Photo by Jacob Bogage '12.

By Jacob Bogage ’12

Call it a fad. Call it a phase. Call it whatever you want, but volleyball is now the most popular sport at Sherwood. After girls’ volleyball went undefeated enroute to a 4A state championship, volleyball has unseated football, which exited the playoffs prematurely, as Sherwood’s top sport.

Everyone loves a winner and volleyball gave the Warrior community just that. Through 19 matches they did not drop a single set, finishing the year with a set-record of 57-0. All this winning must have gotten the Sherwood student body thinking.

As clad blue and white packed the stands at University of Maryland’s Ritchie Coliseum on November 22 for the 4A state championship game, there was something in the woodwork for a future of volleyball at Sherwood.

Well luck would have it on December 16, volleyball hit home with the Sherwood student body. What do you call a lunchtime tournament with 16 teams diving, ducking and digging on the floors of the main gym? Seniors Michael Begley and Will Bouey call it the Sherwood Volleyball Extravaganza.

“I’ve done volleyball before, but never as a class and it’s so much fun,” said Begley. “The team doing so well got everyone excited and made me and Will want to throw together this tournament.”

Begley and Bouey recalled a Farquhar Middle School tradition—an annual, school-wide volleyball tournament—and drew upon the Sherwood girls’ undefeated season to think up the idea for the tournament that has Sherwood in rapture.

With at least 96 students participating, the tournament has garnered major attention including a video on the morning announcements and mention in this prestigious blog.

A word of caution to those participating: beware of the Swag Squad. We may look like chumps (because we are chumps), but we’re confident chumps, willing to do whatever it takes to seize this Extravaganza Championship.