Oshkosh unites to dive into new season, spike expectations

Boys volleyball, a combined team of West and North, is starting its first year as a varsity sport in the Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) after first being added as a junior varsity sport last year.

Senior Irtasam Umar, one of the pioneers behind boys volleyball, hopes to leave his mark.

“I want to build a lasting legacy because I started this when I was in eighth grade and I’ve continued it so far,” he said. “I want to make sure the program exists and continues to move forward even after I graduate.”

The addition of boys volleyball as a varsity sport has resonated with the players, not only because they have been able to see their dreams realized but also because of the recognition for their efforts.

“It means a lot to me to have volleyball added because of how much I’ve done for the program, and it’s been paying me back as well because I’ve gotten notice from it,” Umar said.

The team started out recreationally and over the years turned into a recognized varsity sport, and senior Yylah Yang has found the journey insightful. 

“I thought it was really cool to see how it started as us playing in open gyms at the rec department and then going up to the varsity level and we got our own team,  and it’s cool to see it through all the levels of sports,” he said.

Senior Abel Lo believes the move to varsity will grow the sport.

“Adding volleyball means that it’s growing slowly and gradually, and I think we just need more people to play, and then we can become really good,” he said.

For Umar the sport has given him a space to develop lasting relationships.

“It means a lot not just to me but my friends as well because I have met a bunch of people through volleyball and made lots of memories with them,” he said. 

Boys volleyball is hoping to make an impact in their debut season, and Yang believes that the team can compete against already established programs.

“I hope to show the FVA our presence and show people that we actually can compete against other schools even though we just started,” he said.

The team’s dedication goes beyond hoping to improve skills as the whole team loves the sport and plays at every possible opportunity, according to Umar.

“We play after school, we play outside, we just play at any court we can find just to stay consistent,” he said. “We keep playing because at the end of the day volleyball isn’t something we just want to get good at; it’s something that is fun for us.” 

Umar feels that playing against new opponents has been especially challenging. 

“One of our biggest challenges will be getting used to actual opponents. We have played against each other many times and we improved from that,” he said. “But now we are competing against actual good people that are committed to play collegiately.”

The team boasts a very small roster, especially compared to other schools.

“One of our challenges is that we definitely are undersized; most of our guys are under six foot, and we face a lot of other teams that are very tall,” Lo said. 

Umar believes communication can help the team formulate success and develop interpersonal skills. 

“We have to face a lot of our challenges together; we are a very quiet group and we don’t talk much on the court,” he said. “I think there’s room for improvement in communication and that can help us do better.”

Lo agrees.

“Our goal right now is just trying to win a set, and what we really need is communication and better team chemistry,” he said.

Although team unity has been lacking, Umar believes that the existing members can glue together.

“We can improve on our team chemistry,” he said. “There’s a bunch of new people coming in and we need to build chemistry with them and overall just get to know one another better.”

The team’s senior core hopes to inspire the next generation. 

“Being a senior has really motivated me this year; I want to set a good example for the underclassmen and have them enjoy the sport,” Yang said.

Lo hopes the squad makes memories for themselves and the school they represent.

“I just hope to have a good reputation at the school and have everyone remember our team and for the team to keep on going in the future,” he said.  

by Mason Callahan

Published October 5, 2026

Oshkosh West Index Volume 123 Issue 1