Forget about volleyball experience.

To make history this season, all Ironwood’s boys volleyball program needed was a little help from its friends in the basketball, football and soccer programs, which helped fill Ironwood’s volleyball lineup this season. Besides occupying a roster spot, those players also brought some chemistry, allowing the new players and veterans to jell instantly.

On Tuesday, this hodgepodge of athletes led their school’s boys volleyball program to the state semifinals for the first time after sweeping Salpointe, 26-24, 25-21, 25-13, at home.

“Honestly, it’s weird,” said co-captain David Kisiel about the team’s first-year players. “The first week of practice they would all do things they would do in the sport they play. Like the soccer player (section Player of the Year James Holmes) would always kick the ball. Sometimes to this day he still kicks the ball. They all used to take pictures after we won volleyball tournaments, because they aren’t used to winning volleyball tournaments.”

What also seems out of the place on a volleyball court are co-captain Brandon Bowen’s extra long locks of hair.

But they sure add some flair when he’s running around setting the ball. What isn’t out of the place are the all-around skills of Kisiel, the outside hitting might of Alex Marsh and the presence of Josh Oh in the middle.

Ironwood has plenty of options despite the lack of experience. It also is home to 26-year volleyball coach, Marcy Robb, who guided Ironwood to a girls title and is in her 13^th season with the boys.

“More than anything else this is the best chemistry we’ve ever had on a boys team by far,” Robb said. “They like each other and have fun.”

They hope the fun will continue Thursday at Campo Verde against No. 2 seed Cienega in the semfinals. On Tuesday, the fun for 28-7 Ironwood, the No. 3 seed in the Division II state tournament, didn’t really start until the third game Tuesday.

Salpointe came to play, and despite trailing 5-0 in the opening game, it charged back and battled the remainder of the game. Salpointe even served for the game, but a serve went in the net and a block and outside blast from Kisiel helped Ironwood put away Game 1.

Kisiel is dangerous in the back row (6 kills), in the front (12 kills) and behind the service line (3 jump serve aces). If teams key in on him, then that opens it up for Marsh (8 kills) and Oh (6 kills).

Game 2 also turned into a tight battle. Salpointe’s strong outside hitter, Luke Wallace, helped his team stay in the game.

But Kisiel, Oh and Marsh were just too much to handle down the stretch of the second game, which ended after Bowen dumped the ball over three unsuspecting blockers.

Ironwood wins Game 2 25-21. Final point: pic.twitter.com/4O6vSoh2pZ

— Jose E. Garcia (@AZPreps365Jose) May 11, 2016

Salpointe had a couple of solid blocks against Kisiel, including one to start Game 3 to help the Tucson team team go up 2-0. But it was all Ironwood after that.

If Ironwood wins the D-II title, Kisiel has asked Bowen if he’ll shave his head.

That’s out of the question, according to Bowen.

That’s OK. Why ruin such a great look for such a unique team.