Bassam Awde, Volleyball is in his Genes
By Christopher Tremblay
Volleyball may be a typical sport or one that many gravitate toward, but Norwood’s Bassam Awde found that it was a sport that he had to at least try.
“Jake taught me so much about the game,” Awde said. “I really learned a lot just by watching him play. We still see each other as we work together and play indoor beach volleyball at Joust in Norwood.”
As a sophomore, Awde was moved to outside hitter by Coach Paul Nimblett and was looking to take his game to the next level when Covid cancelled his junior season. Having lost an entire season, Awde knows that he not only has a lot of catching up to do on the court, but wants to also show colleges that he can play on the collegiate level.
“This season really means a lot to me as I want to play volleyball in college and with everything that happened last year, college coaches could only view tapes of players previous years,” Awde said. “At the time I didn’t have any tapes, so this year is very important that I not only put together something for college coaches to view but that I also play at the top of my game.”
When he last stepped onto a high school volleyball court, the Norwood athlete was around 5’9” and remembers could barely get the ball over the court. As he enters his senior season, he has grown to 6’2” and has no issue with being able to spike the ball over the net.
In addition to playing hitter for the Mustangs, the senior will also see some action as the team’s setter, a position he picked up when he was setting up Fleming as a freshman.
“Bassam has not only grown in height, but he has improved his work ethic all around,” coach Nimblett said. “He worked extremely hard and went to many camps and clinics in preparation for this season as he was very bummed out about not having a season last year. He has come in with a great attitude and having a team of young individuals he has taken them under his wing to show them the game.”
Norwood will take to the court 14 times this year, and according to Nimblett the team will probably run a 6-2 around Awde’s skills. Nimblett also noted that the senior outside hitter will also set and spend some time on the back line when Victor Green moves into the hitting position. With the growth spurt, Awde cannot only hit the ball with force, but his jumping ability has enabled him to become a great blocker as well.
“From his first year on the team, Bassam has become much stronger and couldn’t really reach the top of the net,” the Mustang Coach said. “Today, he’s jumping up and over while hitting with force. He also has incorporated a hard serve into his arsenal and although he lost an entire season, he is very excited to be playing volleyball once again during his senior season.”
Being that this is his final season with the Mustangs Awde wants to go out and enjoy his last hurrah with his teammates while picking up as many W’s as they can.
“I want to go out and have fun during my senior season while winning,” Awde said. “I am surprised at how quickly the newcomers have progressed since the first days of practice. I feel that we’ll be alright in the TVL, the only team I am worried about is Milford, they have a great program. However, I feel that whatever happens against them we should still be able to put together a successful season.”
Each and every time that Awde steps onto a court he plans on giving 100% giving the Mustangs the best possibility to win. He will continue to practice and work hard on his game in order to secure a spot on a collegiate volleyball team.
Awde is planning on attending Rivier University in Nashua New Hampshire following his graduation from Norwood High School. The Raiders are a Division 3 NCAA school and is part of the Greater Northeast Athletic Conference. The Norwood athlete has reached out to the Rivier volleyball coach and has been told to forward his game tapes.
Volleyball may be a typical sport or one that many gravitate toward, but Norwood’s Bassam Awde found that it was a sport that he had to at least try.
“My dad had played volleyball and my cousins have a court in their back yard, so I guess it has always been in my blood so to speak,” the Norwood hitter said, “In eighth grade gym class, we played it and I enjoyed it. It was a game that seemed to come easy to me so I figured that when I got to high school I would try out for the team.”
“Jake taught me so much about the game,” Awde said. “I really learned a lot just by watching him play. We still see each other as we work together and play indoor beach volleyball at Joust in Norwood.”
As a sophomore, Awde was moved to outside hitter by Coach Paul Nimblett and was looking to take his game to the next level when Covid cancelled his junior season. Having lost an entire season, Awde knows that he not only has a lot of catching up to do on the court, but wants to also show colleges that he can play on the collegiate level.
“This season really means a lot to me as I want to play volleyball in college and with everything that happened last year, college coaches could only view tapes of players previous years,” Awde said. “At the time I didn’t have any tapes, so this year is very important that I not only put together something for college coaches to view but that I also play at the top of my game.”
When he last stepped onto a high school volleyball court, the Norwood athlete was around 5’9” and remembers could barely get the ball over the court. As he enters his senior season, he has grown to 6’2” and has no issue with being able to spike the ball over the net.
In addition to playing hitter for the Mustangs, the senior will also see some action as the team’s setter, a position he picked up when he was setting up Fleming as a freshman.
“Bassam has not only grown in height, but he has improved his work ethic all around,” coach Nimblett said. “He worked extremely hard and went to many camps and clinics in preparation for this season as he was very bummed out about not having a season last year. He has come in with a great attitude and having a team of young individuals he has taken them under his wing to show them the game.”
Norwood will take to the court 14 times this year, and according to Nimblett the team will probably run a 6-2 around Awde’s skills. Nimblett also noted that the senior outside hitter will also set and spend some time on the back line when Victor Green moves into the hitting position. With the growth spurt, Awde cannot only hit the ball with force, but his jumping ability has enabled him to become a great blocker as well.
“From his first year on the team, Bassam has become much stronger and couldn’t really reach the top of the net,” the Mustang Coach said. “Today, he’s jumping up and over while hitting with force. He also has incorporated a hard serve into his arsenal and although he lost an entire season, he is very excited to be playing volleyball once again during his senior season.”
Being that this is his final season with the Mustangs Awde wants to go out and enjoy his last hurrah with his teammates while picking up as many W’s as they can.
“I want to go out and have fun during my senior season while winning,” Awde said. “I am surprised at how quickly the newcomers have progressed since the first days of practice. I feel that we’ll be alright in the TVL, the only team I am worried about is Milford, they have a great program. However, I feel that whatever happens against them we should still be able to put together a successful season.”
Each and every time that Awde steps onto a court he plans on giving 100% giving the Mustangs the best possibility to win. He will continue to practice and work hard on his game in order to secure a spot on a collegiate volleyball team.
Awde is planning on attending Rivier University in Nashua New Hampshire following his graduation from Norwood High School. The Raiders are a Division 3 NCAA school and is part of the Greater Northeast Athletic Conference. The Norwood athlete has reached out to the Rivier volleyball coach and has been told to forward his game tapes.
