Homewood-Flossmoor girls volleyball has homework between practices this season.

New coach Nate Nesbit asked the Vikings to pick up a copy of The Champion Teammate by Jerry Lynch and John O’Sullivan. They read a chapter at home and then discuss it after practice. The book reflects what he wants H-F volleyball to be. 

It’s all part of Nesbit’s “WE OVER ME” theme that he hopes gives a talented team a leg up later this fall. 

“(Nesbit) started this whole thing,” senior setter Na’imah Calhoun said. “He’s trying to make it like this whole program is together. We’re all practicing in the same gym. It just feels more like a community.” 

Nesbit was hired in January after three seasons as the junior varsity head coach. He talked with previous coach Bob St. Leger about eventually becoming his successor when he first arrived.

“My plan was always to be the varsity head coach here. I wasn’t sure what that timeline looked like but I knew I wanted to come here, put some time in and get to know the program and eventually captain the ship,” Nesbit said. 

When asked about how the program will be different under him, Nesbit talks first about things like community outreach, team building and the feeder system. That “WE OVER ME” slogan emblazoned on the backs of the Vikings’ shirts is about more than just the varsity team.

He’ll encourage his team to attend middle school games and become familiar representatives for younger kids to look up to. 

“We want Homewood-Flossmoor to recognize that this is where you go to play volleyball,” Nesbit said. “Putting the seniors in that spotlight in the community, it’s important for them as people as well as players to build that confidence as young women.”  

Nesbit has some good options to become that representation. 

Senior Kymora Scott is committed to one of the country’s top college programs in Wisconsin. Senior Ihuoma Ozoh is working her way back from an injury but is committed to Clemson. Calhoun, Makayla Cooper and junior Gabrielle Brooms also were contributors to a team that went 27-8 (7-1 SouthWest Suburban Conference) and won a regional title a year ago.

The last run ended in the sectional opener with a loss to perennial power Mother McAuley. That environment was a bit of a shock to some of the Vikings, they admitted. Next time, it won’t be.

“The energy in the gym was different. I’ve never experienced that ever in my life. It was so fast-paced with the energy high from the parents to the students,” Cooper said. “It was just crazy.”

Relaying that kind of knowledge is now a key element for H-F. 

Scott, a team captain, opened an Aug. 21 joint practice with a speech for the younger players in the fieldhouse. She told them to savor their time with the Vikings. Before that, each varsity player led a stretch group full of freshmen and sophomores. 

“Last year, we weren’t a unit. We weren’t together,” she said. “That’s what we’re really emphasizing, just showing up for each other. It’s not about the individuals.” 

Cooper and Calhoun are the other captains, as voted by the team.

“Us seniors, we thrive under pressure and we know how to lead people,” Calhoun said. “I think it’s good to have us here for the sophomores and freshmen, even juniors to have somebody to look up to.” 

They may not all be on the court right away, though.

Ozoh was cleared to practice but not yet play. Nesbit said the hope is to have her contribute in some way, even if she can’t show off all of her abilities. He doesn’t want to rush her, though.

“I feel pretty close to 100 percent, at least enough that it’s safe to (practice),” Ozoh said. “At the end of the day, that rests in someone else’s hands.” 

Ozoh has a future to think about.

Nesbit thinks about his program’s future, too. He said the players still working their way through the system give him something to look forward to. 

“H-F is a competitive school in a very competitive region of the state,” he said. “We’ve got lots of talent, so this is an exciting program to be a part of, for sure.” 

Scott is the face of the team right now. She knows she’ll be the first thing on every opponent’s scouting report. As a younger player, that may have been intimidating. Not anymore. She wants that pressure.

“I’m ready for it,” Scott said. “All you got to do is stop me. Good luck.” 

That sentiment isn’t unique at H-F. The Vikings have lofty hopes. 

“We’re looking downstate,” Nesbit said. “It would be foolish not to with the people that we have, but our success is how we grow and improve as a team. This is going to be a fun era for H-F. I’m looking to be here for a good, long time.”