Grossmont College wrapped up its men’s volleyball season Friday night with a packed gym, a loud student section, and a well‑earned celebration of the team’s sophomores.
It was also the first season under new head coach Andrew Shiheiber, a Grossmont alum who played for the Griffins before returning as an assistant coach in 2022.
“A year ago, I interviewed for this job, and now I’m here,” Shiheiber said.
Last season, the Griffins finished 3–19. This year, they ended at 7–15, a jump Shiheiber said reflects what the team has been building.
“Our goal coming in was to make a difference and get more wins,” he said. “We ended 7–15, and that’s something to be proud of. It’s a winning record in the sense that we picked up some big wins when we needed them.”
Shiheiber inherited one of the largest freshman classes the program has had in years, while also coaching sophomores he previously worked with as an assistant.
“But the biggest thing for us is confidence,” he said. “If we have guys who show up, are coachable, and want to grow, we’re going to thrive.”
For the sophomores honored Friday night, it was an emotional setting— a mix of pride, nostalgia and the realization their time in green and gold is coming to an end.
Noah Kircher, who has been a steady presence on the court, said the season was full of moments with his teammates he won’t forget. He described the year as “interesting,” shaped by both challenges and growth.
“There were a lot of hardships, but we still had a lot of fun,” Kircher said. “As a player, just playing with better people makes you improve. And the coaching this year really helped us get better.”
Kircher said he appreciated Shiheiber’s balance of intensity and joy.
“Coach still wants to make it a fun environment, but he can be serious when he needs to,” he said. “All the friends I made— that’s what I’m gonna miss.”
Sophomore Joaquin Velasco said he’ll miss “the atmosphere” most— the energy of the gym, the bus rides to away games and the feeling of competing with teammates he’s grown close to. When asked how he’s grown as a player, he said he has “definitely learned to control my emotions better.”
Even with the season ending, Shiheiber says the program is only trending upward. “I’m very excited about where we’re headed,” he said.
He emphasized the foundation built this year with the team’s confidence, chemistry and willingness to work is what will carry the program forward.
With a strong freshman core returning and a coach who’s deeply invested in the program’s future, the Griffins leave this season with something that will only help them continue to thrive: momentum.
And if sophomore night made anything clear, it’s that the players who helped spark that momentum are leaving the program better than they found it.
Oscar Alcon contributed to this story.
