By Tim Wester
Sports Correspondent
Union Grove boys volleyball coach Dan Dresen may have found the pathway to coaching Nirvana.
Instead of having to deal with old traditions, molding coaching styles, and convincing players to accept a new system, Dresen got to start from scratch as the first boys volleyball coach in Union Grove school history.
“It’s really exciting to grow something from the ground up because you can put your own style behind it,” Dresen said. “To be able to put your stamp on it first and have the parents, athletic director and other staff support the cause as you grow the program has been awesome to see.”
In general, boys volleyball in southeastern Wisconsin does not have a rich tradition, but in the sports-loving town of Union Grove, it became a cause to add boys volleyball to the school’s varsity sports.
Parents of high school students began petitioning for the sport three years ago, before the program was officially conceived last season as a junior varsity sport. According to WIAA regulations, a new sport most begin as a junior varsity sport for the first year before it can become a varsity sport.
Dresen, who had been an assistant on girls volleyball coach Sarah Busalacchi’s staff, was hired to become coach of the junior varsity 1 and 2 teams. From that point, Dresen admitted he wasn’t sure of how things would develop.
“We just weren’t sure what the numbers would be with this sport at the beginning,” Dresen said. “We knew that without a strong club team tradition on the boys side, experience would be low. As it turned out we had just two club players go out for the team.”
Dresen added, “Last season I coached both JV teams by myself, but this year we have Nick Harrison as the new junior varsity coach, while I coach the varsity, so you can already see the growth of the program in just one year.”
Another vital part to the development of the program has been the support of Busalacchi.
“Coach Sarah and I have a great relationship and therefore our relationship with the girls team is great,” Dresen said. “We’ve worked together to set up practice times that don’t interfere with each other. I encourage the boys to watch and support the girls team because it’s important for them to learn as much about the game as possible.”
The fledging Bronco varsity program has been accepted to the Southeastern Conference for volleyball. The Southern Lakes Conference, which is where the other Union Grove varsity teams compete, does not have a boys volleyball division.
Instead, the Broncos, along with fellow rookie program Wilmot, will battle established programs in conference that include familiar foes in Burlington, Westosha Central, and Racine Horlick.
“Our expectations are at a level where we want to execute and be disciplined with offensive and defensive systems,” Dresen said. “If we can execute, we can be successful. Dealing with less experienced guys, there has to be a learning curve for execution, but if we can come together as a team, we will have lots of success.”
Leading the way for the Broncos are co-captains and outside hitters Grant Beck and Brendon Belongie.
“Brendon brings club experience to the team with the highest volleyball IQ, while Grant brings superior athleticism as a three-sport athlete and is a natural leader.”
The duo will be asked to lead the way for their team as it plays in its first-ever varsity game here Sept. 4 against Kenosha Tremper.
“Each time we step into the gym, the players have gotten better,” Dresen said. “As a first-year program, you can’t ask for anything more.”
The Broncos may take a few lumps along the way, but it certainly will be exciting.
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