Coach's Corner - Matt Borrelli, Perryville Volleyball
Today we're featuring Matt Borrelli, who coaches volleyball at Perryville High School in Cecil County! Coach Borrelli spoke with us about a variety of topics, including how Perryville has won seven straight MPSSAA regional titles!
County Sports Zone:How did you get your start with coaching?
Matt Borrelli:I began coaching while I was in college. The middle school where I was student teaching needed an assistant baseball coach, and I've been coaching ever since. I have experience coaching volleyball, baseball, football, and track & field.
CSZ:Why do you coach? What about it do you enjoy?
MB:I coach because it's fun and because I enjoy helping others. Sports are such a great way to teach important life skills such as teamwork, positive attitude, problem solving, goal setting, and perseverance. I enjoy the strategy of organizing our lineup and game-planning for an opponent. Mostly, I enjoy creating a positive environment where my players can work hard and have fun together.
CSZ:Specifically Perryville- why do you enjoy coaching there?
MB:I love coaching at Perryville because of the bond we have as a team. The school, administrators, and the parents are very helpful and supportive. Our players have so much passion for the game and they conduct themselves in a respectful manner. I am very blessed to work with such wonderful people every day.
CSZ:What're some characteristics of teams that are coached by you? What do you try to instill in your players?
MB:Our program is built around two phrases: "Attitude and Effort" and "No Excuses." Attitude and effort are the two things every athlete has complete control over. Each player chooses their attitude and effort every day at practice. To be our best, everyone needs a positive, team-first attitude and we need to give maximum effort in all we do. No excuses simply means that when we make a mistake, we admit it, accept it, fix it, and move on. We never dwell on our mistakes, and we never blame our mistakes on anyone else.
CSZ:Perryville volleyball has enjoyed an amazing run of consistent success. The program has won seven straight regional titles, and during that stretch, has reached the state title game five times. What are some keys to running a program that is so successful year in and year out?
MB:We have been fortunate to have so many talented volleyball players come through our program in the last few years. Our players have a tremendous amount of love, passion, and dedication to the game, and they are the reason for our success. We also have excellent leadership from our captains each year, and they are great role models for our younger players to learn from.
CSZ:The one thing missing from the program's resume is a state championship. What would it mean to the Perryville volleyball program to get over the hump and win one?
MB:Winning a state championship would mean everything to the Perryville volleyball program. Not just for our current players, but for our former players as well. We always have former players coming back to cheer and show their support, and it's great to see how much pride they have in our team even after they graduate. We know that as long as we continue to work hard and work together, Perryville volleyball will win a state championship one day.
CSZ:Looking ahead, what are your goals and expectations for Perryville volleyball next season?
MB:Looking ahead to next season, we will have several players new to the varsity level. Although we will have some inexperience, I expect our team leaders to set the tone and example for everyone else to follow. We may have some things to fix early on, but ultimately our goal is to win the regional title and compete for a state championship.
| July 18th, 2018 | By: Wick Eisenberg |