WPIAL Alum Q&A – Brandon Buck

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, May 3, 2016 | 2:36 PM

The Ambridge Area boys volleyball team has become a dynasty in recent years. The Bridgers have claimed seven of the past eight titles in Class AA, including each of the past four. Brandon Buck was instrumental in Ambridge securing several of those titles, and now he’s a key member of the St. Francis program. Brandon is this week’s focus of the WPIAL Alum Q&A.

Following the Bridgers semifinals loss in 2011 when Buck was a freshman, the outside hitter helped propel Ambridge to three straight titles over the Derry Area Trojans. In all three of those campaigns, Buck was honored as an All-State performer.

After completing his prolific tenure with Ambridge, Buck matriculated to St. Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania. As a freshman in 2015, the 6-foot-3 athlete was eased into action, playing in 17 matches, including eight starts. In his playing time, Buck compiled 37 kills, as the team struggled to a 6-20 record.

This season marked quite a turnaround for both Buck and the Red Flash, though. As a sophomore, Buck earned a significant increase in court time, and he made the most of his opportunity. Buck played in 26 matches, including 22 starts. He notched 166 kills and 115 digs. 

Meanwhile, the team compiled a 19-10 mark, the second most wins in program history. St. Francis scored upset wins against multiple ranked opponents, including twice defeating Penn State University. The second of those victories against the Nittany Lions came in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association semifinals. Ultimately, the Red Flash season concluded following a defeat to George Mason in the conference championship tilt.

Brandon took the time to answer questions regarding his development as a player, the legacy of Ambridge’s program, and his academic focus at St. Francis.

Q: You made a big jump in playing time and production from your freshman to sophomore year. What has been the biggest factor in your improvement?

A: There are several factors that I believe led to my improvement from freshman to sophomore year. First being, of course, my teammates. My teammates pushed me to get better and vise versa. I think our team improved substantially as a whole this year, which in turn caused me to improve. Also, I think the experience and confidence I gained from the previous season really helped me to improve. 

Q: What was the toughest adjustment from high school to college volleyball?

A: I would say the biggest changes would be the overall speed of play and how high everyone is jumping. The serves are a lot faster; guys hit way harder. This, combined with guys jumping higher, can take some time getting used to. 

Q: What are the most important aspects to be a successful outside hitter?

A: I would say that there is not one single skill that makes someone a successful outside hitter. To be a successful outside, you need to be able to do all the skills well. If I had to pick a skill, I would say hitting and passing because they have the largest impact on the team’s performance. 

Q: Do you have a typical reaction or celebration after a big spike?

A: Haha yes, all the guys say that I hold my right arm up in a fist. I didn’t actually know that I did that, but now I do realize that I do it after about every point I score for the team. 

Q: What was it like playing against Penn State and your former teammate Lee Smith, and scoring a big upset over the Nittany Lions?

A: Beating Penn State has to be the greatest achievement of my athletic career. The Nittany Lions are a great team, and to be able to come in and beat them on their home court was very exciting. I definitely think playing against Lee’s team adds a little bit of extra motivation for me personally.

Q: Your team had a lengthy winning streak in the middle of the season. What allowed the Red Flash to make that run?

A: I think the factor that led to our winning streak was confidence in our abilities as a team. We really came together and started to believe that we were a team that could win games if we stuck to our game plan and played with confidence.

Q: What led to your decision to attend St. Francis?

A: I think at the end of the day, Saint Francis was the best fit for my family, as well as myself. They provided a good education that I believed could help me succeed as an individual in the future. I also thought they had a solid volleyball program with a great coach.

Q: Ambridge Area has been a volleyball powerhouse for years. Was there added pressure to uphold the team’s winning tradition?

A: I would say no. When I decided to play volleyball, my goal as well as the team’s goal was to be the best we could be. This had nothing to do with winning. I think the winning came from our drive to be the best we could be. Our coach, Mr Freed, did an excellent job at pushing the team, as well as developing individual players to succeed.

Q: What was your best memory from Ambridge?

A: I would say my greatest memory from Ambridge is when we came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Derry in my first ever WPIAL championship.

Q: Do you still keep in touch with coaches and teammates, and follow the school’s volleyball team?

A: Yes, I keep in touch with just about all the people from my team, as well as the coaches. I ask my old coaches how the team is doing often, and I will definitely go to some of their games when I get home from college.

Q: What is your major?

A: Mathematics with a concentration in actuarial sciences.

Q: How did you find a balance between studies and volleyball in college?

A: Time management skills. I learned to utilize the free time that I had to get work done. I normally take less credit hours in season to lower my work load.

Q: What is your favorite sport aside from volleyball to watch or play?

A: I like to play basketball in my free time for fun. My favorite sport to watch is football.

Q: What is a little known fact about you or a hidden talent you possess?

A: I would say a fact that not many people know about me is that I actually really enjoy mathematics and physics. The two subjects interest me a lot.

Tags: Ambridge, St. Francis PA