Boys Volleyball POW – Oct. 29

	Age: 17 Year: Senior Performance: Blankenbecler registered 34 assists, 16 kills and 10 blocks in two Thomas Dale victories. Funniest teammate: “They’re all pretty funny, but I’d say Steven McGraw. He always comes up with funny facial expressions.” Best trait: “My calmness. How I keep my composure throughout the game and don’t get too angry or too fired up throughout the game.” Character moment: “I’d say when my brother [Justin, graduated from Dale in 2005] played at Thomas Dale. I got to watch him play. That made me want to play just as well as he did.” On unbeaten season: “We didn’t expect to go undefeated. We didn’t expct to go unbeaten in each game. It just ended up in our favor every game.” Pre-game ritual: “Before each game we go to our local subway and we all eat together before the game. Just good team bonding to get good chemistry.” Toughest opponent: “Monacan. They’re good every year. When you see them on the schedule you know it’s going to be a big, important game.” Advice to youngsters: “Just practice hard each day and try to get better each day and it’ll end up happening like you want it to.”
S/OH Michael Blankenbecler