20 hours Ago
Pierce had played basketball his entire life. It'd been his favorite sport forever. However, when he transferred to Bishop Noll, the now-senior was talked into joining the volleyball team by his friends, Zeb and Zeke Zukley, who themselves only had one year of experience with the sport at the time.
"I just took the opportunity and had a lot of fun with it," Pierce said. While there were growing pains for him, as there have been for many Region athletes who have picked up boys volleyball the last couple years, the fact that his friends were in a similar position as he was made him feel more comfortable. "It was a growing experience, which made it a lot of fun," Pierce recalled.
"We were all so used to being around each other, it didn't matter what was going on. We were just happy to be playing volleyball." Bishop Noll head coach Dave Rodriguez knew Pierce was athletic and that he had touch.
What he needed to teach the 6-foot-4 junior was timing. "He picked it up quickly, and he's getting better every time he's in the gym," Rodriguez said. Now, Pierce is a key contributor for the Warriors squad that is two wins away from winning the sectional championship on Saturday.
One of the best traits that Pierce brings to the squad is his calm demeanor. Rodriguez said that the senior has been the team's mental attitude award winner the last two seasons, and he helps work the team out of situations when they're against the ropes. That doesn't mean Pierce isn't afraid to show emotion, however.
"He's a little bit Jekyll and Hyde," Rodriguez said. "When he gets that big block or that big kill, he'll turn his back to the opponent, and he does celebrate out of character. We do enjoy that.
" In the Warriors' 25-20, 25-14, 25-20 sectional win over Crown Point on Thursday, Pierce recorded eight kills. Rodriguez recognizes the importance of Pierce as he knows teams will look to take away his outside hitters, so having that pressure release valve on the right side is key. Pierce was just happy to come away with the sectional win.
"We started slow in the first set. Once the second (came), I was getting a lot more good hits," he said. "Good sets from my setter, and we were just building momentum and excitement.
" As the postseason draws nearer to a close, Pierce will prepare to take his talents to Wingate, where he'll play beach volleyball. He was drawn to the school for many reasons: Their coach is also left-handed, and will help him learn the sport better, and he had a great experience when he took his visit last weekend. Pierce also had a hard time choosing between playing volleyball and basketball at the next level.
When it was settled on volleyball, he had consulted with the Noll coaching staff on whether or not indoor or beach would be better for him. "Me and my coaches decided to have a talk about where I was a better fit for beach or indoor volleyball," Pierce said. "Beach had a lot of good transitions, and it was definitely an advantage with me being left-handed and being able to hit with my right at times.
" Rodriguez said the experience was atypical from his side, as normally he reaches out to college coaches to gauge their interest, but this wasn't the case with Pierce. "That was kind of a surprise to us," Rodriguez said. "He did have a couple other schools that were asking him to come play beach, play basketball.
" Before he heads to Wingate, Pierce and the Warriors will face Lake Central, whom they beat 2-0 in a May 3 tournament. He feels confident about what his team can do Saturday at noon against the Indians. "We played them earlier in the year, and we're confident we can win that game," Pierce said.
Sweets for Schara On April 25, former Crown Point volleyball star Kendall Schara was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. There has been a GoFundMe started to help the family, but Bishop Noll volleyball wanted to raise money to help the Schara family, too. While the benefit Bishop Noll was holding to raise money to help pay for her treatments was supposed to be kept a secret, word got out about "Sweets for Schara," a bake sale that was being held during the sectional matches on Wednesday, Thursday and will continue during the games on Saturday.
"We wanted to do something because Crown Point was in the sectional," Rodriguez said. "I've known the Schara family a long time. Marley (Schara) played for me in club.
It's a hard time to go through, and we wanted to give a little back." He estimates that in the first two days of the sale, which has been approved by the IHSAA, they have raised $600. "That's halfway through, and our goal was $1,000," Rodriguez said.
"I think we're gonna do this." The first game will begin at 10 a.m.
Saturday as Illiana Christian will play Hammond Central, followed by Bishop Noll against Lake Central at noon..
