He’s one of the best volleyball players in Pennsylvania.
He’s put up eye-popping numbers, some of those digits reminiscent of video-game numbers. He averaged 10 kills a set. Not a match. Just one set.
Yet, spend a few minutes with Holy Redeemer’s Josh Rocha, and it’s never about him.
Sure, the senior hitter had goals. But it wasn’t any kind of individual accolades. Instead, everything was team focused. Especially winning a district title.
“For me, it was about learning to be the best teammate that I could be, and also, just having fun because it was my senior year,” he said.
Rocha accomplished both.
He made memories on the court with his friends, and was able to drape a gold medal around his neck. For his efforts, Rocha is the Citizens’ Voice Boys’ Volleyball Performer of the Year. It’s the second consecutive year he’s been named as the Voice’s top player.
There isn’t much missing from his resume.
He’s the program’s all-time leader in kills.
He helped Holy Redeemer back to the top perch in the District 2 Class 2A volleyball world.
He also guided the Royals into the state quarterfinals.
Rocha’s numbers are unbelievable. He finished with 956 kills, which ranked No. 1 in the country, according to MaxPreps. He added 91 service points, 31 aces, 75 blocks and 125 digs.
The senior sat down with The Voice to talk about his senior year, what it meant to win a district gold medal in his final season, and about his future at Penn State.
Q: You entered this season as the featured hitter at Holy Redeemer, which brings a lot of pressure and attention. Talk about the expectations and the pressure of that spot.
A: For me, the expectations didn’t come with any pressure because I’ve been in this situation before. The past four years, I’ve always been a varsity starter, so I really didn’t feel any type of additional pressure. My coaches, teammates and family, they have always kind of alleviated that pressure. We came into the season expecting more than last year. Although we did lose a lot of players, we really wanted to get that district title, especially myself, because I didn’t get a district title in my first three years. We were really hungry to win, and we came in every day and put the work in.
Q: You did lose a lot of talented players from last year’s team. What was it like at the first practice with a group of newer athletes in the lineup?
A: It was overwhelming at times, but also, every day, I was really hopeful. Each day, we would look better than the day before. It was a constant growth from every single one of those players. I was so just proud of every one of them because they put in the time to get better.
Q: What was the bond like between you and your setter, Jack Wasiakowski?
A: I would say, this year, we were a lot closer. Our connection was great. His location was so good this year, and I am so proud of him. He’s going to do a lot of big things next year. That connection, it’s so important. He would always say that he would just put the ball up there for me to slam it because he trusted me. I think it’s so important to have that level of trust.
Q: You put up some really big numbers this year. One match, you had over 50 kills. Do you ever look back at the stat sheet the next day, and just say to yourself, “Whoa, I just did something pretty special?”
A: Honestly, I would always say to myself that I could do better. I always push for that next level.
Q: What was the feeling like when you finally got that district championship that you were striving for?
A: It was awesome because I was finally holding that gold medal after all these years. I’m just glad that I did it with this team because I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else. I didn’t know what to do. I just took a few deep breaths and said to myself that this was really it, and I accomplished a major goal.
Q: How have you grown over the last four years?
A: I learned a lot about myself, actually. It is time-consuming to be a student-athlete, but I wouldn’t trade my experiences for anything. It’s something I love doing, and I am glad that the freshman me decided to play volleyball.
Q: Talk about your future. What does the next few months look like?A: I am taking some time. Right now, I am playing volleyball for Prevail and I am going to nationals in Florida. After that, I am going to attend Penn State where I am going to study pre-med and play volleyball.
Q: What was the decision like to attend Penn State to study pre-med?
A: It was a tough decision, but I kind of felt like I always wanted to go to Penn State. I’ve talked with all of my friends that are on that pre-med track and they all love it. Their experiences have also pushed me to go there.
Q: If you would, pass along some words of advice to the underclassmen or someone thinking about playing volleyball at Holy Redeemer.
A: Growth doesn’t happen right away. It’s a long process, especially for myself. These past two years, people have started to see me shine. My freshman and sophomore years, I didn’t get all that glory. It’s about that hard work. If you keep working hard, you are going to get there in no time.
today’s program as he transitions to a digital platform. Lerch is quoted saying, “When I started this back in 2002, I never thought I’d last nearly a quarter of a century on the radio. It’s been my life’s pleasure entertaining and interacting with our incredible listeners over two decades of Syracuse sports history and I look forward to my new journey as a digital sports content host.” See the CNYCentral story here. 
