Kevin Joyce

Steve Virgen

More than likely Kevin Joyce is oblivious of his overall importance

to Sage Hill School. For one he’s a bit modest and he’s also but a

teenager.

It’s hard to believe Joyce realizes the total impact he’s making

on the Sage Hill boys volleyball team.

It’s been about a month since he became a 17-year-old. The stereotype is that kids his age think they know it all, but Joyce is

too honest to fit that mold.

Sage Hill is in its second varsity season in volleyball and Joyce

is one of the reasons the Lightning has improved. He endured a losing

season last year, yet managed to set a standard: If you want to get

better, you have to put in extra time to refine your skill. That

standard is the type of quality that stays within a program for years

to come.

Joyce, a co-captain, has also become a leader for the Lightning.

“I’ve seen his confidence grow this year,” Sage Hill Coach Merja

Connolly-Freund said. “He’s taking on leadership of the program,

making his teammates better and more accountable and more

disciplined. He’s a very positive person.

“I think what sets Kevin apart, not only is that he’s a great

athlete, but he’s very coachable and very positive with everyone

around him.”

Joyce’s positive thinking has resulted in an infectious attitude

he has toward everyday practices. Last year, Joyce developed an

attraction to attending practices because he realized the opportunity

to improve and he also learned of his passion for the game.

Basketball is very close to Joyce’s heart, but volleyball is

becoming a bigger part of his life.

“That probably clicked last year,” Joyce said of his passion for

volleyball. “It just felt like I was having fun and having a good

time, and winning games for my club. There are certain sports when

you go to practice and you kind of don’t want to go. I started to

look forward to going to practice. That was the turning point, where

I said, ‘I want to do this everyday, and I don’t have a problem with

it. I want to play it everyday and I get to hang out with friends.”

It’s that type of mentality that has helped Sage Hill open its

season with a nine-match winning streak. It also helps that this

season, Sage Hill has three club volleyball players, whereas last

year Joyce was the only one on a club team.

But, of a higher importance, the Lightning’s players have become

better communicators.

“What makes me most proud about Kevin is that he’s been a positive

leader and very patient especially in the last two seasons,”

Connolly-Freund said. “We had some losing records, and I’m really

happy to see this year his hard work and the team’s hard work

beginning to pay off.”

Connolly-Freund also said Joyce’s well-rounded game has been an

important asset. Joyce has an accurate jump serve, the Sage Hill

Coach said, and he has improved on all his shots. He’s the

Lightning’s go-to outside hitter.

Last week, Joyce tallied 45 kills and 15 services aces in two

four-game matches, leading the Lightning to two Academy League

victories.

He collected 22 kills and 11 jump-serve aces in a four-game win

over Whitney March 21.

“In volleyball, coach has told me it’s all about experience,”

Joyce said. “Each year that we play and each game we play we gain

more experience. As a team we’ve experienced a lot more. We’ve been

gaining so much more knowledge of the game. This year we’re a lot

more organized, and we’re just playing tougher.”

High school sports are much about getting to the next level, or

learning the importance of teamwork, but sometimes along the way come

rare situations where one experiences something extra. Joyce is

thriving in his situation. He’s also relishing the moment.