Grehan sparks tough Cox volleyball team

VIRGINIA BEACH

Cox coach Jason Zuidema has seen plenty of highlight-reel plays in more than a decade of playing for and coaching elite volleyball teams.

But as Zuidema talks about Falcons senior Drew Grehan, a wide smile crosses his face and the coach's excitement is obvious.

"When he puts the ball away it sparks the team," Zuidema said. "He's definitely one of the hardest-hitting players. When he hits the ball, it's exciting to watch."

Cox made the Group AAA state semifinals last year and is primed for another postseason run. The Falcons are 19-1 entering the Beach District tournament, getting contributions from several players, including Ryan Rosenmeier, Kyle Ferencik, Michael Albis and Ace Ermlich.

Still, Zuidema knows to turn to his 6-foot-5 middle hitter when his team needs a lift.

"This year we really have the team around him," Zuidema said. "But it's just like, 'When is he going to put that first ball away?' Then it's on after that."

Grehan didn't pick up volleyball until his freshman year. He originally saw it as a way to enhance his basketball skills, but quickly realized he preferred volleyball.

Grehan also quickly started excelling in the sport. In addition to leading Cox, he's qualified for elite-level national teams each of the past three summers. He's considering an offer to play for Division I St. Francis (Pa.).

"It was easy to get the motions," Grehan said. "But then there's the small details you can do, like hitting it to the left or hitting it to the right, that was challenging. But I was able to get some of it and worked on it and now I can do it a lot more efficiently."

However, Grehan wasn't in the starting lineup when James River swept Cox in the state semifinals last season. Grehan was slowed for roughly half the season by thyroiditis, an inflammation of the thyroid gland. Symptoms include fatigue and muscle weakness.

"I came on eventually and scored a few points, but we still lost," Grehan said of the state semifinal loss. "I was very disappointed, wish I could've done more."

Grehan estimates he was 50 percent healthy for that game. Now, he's 100 percent.

"We did lose to First Colonial (this year)," Grehan said. "And one of my big goals is to beat them in the district tournament and regional and, if they make it to states, I want to beat them there."