As the second 12 months of the newer two-division, statewide event kicks into gear, there’s a buzz the boys volleyball group hasn’t actually felt since earlier than the pandemic cancelled the 2020 season.
With some key departures from a historic Needham program, the Div. 1 state title race has damaged again open.
Rockets head coach Dave Powell isn’t anticipating to catch lightning in a bottle like he did during the last two years with a 46-game win streak and two overpowering state title runs, however Needham nonetheless stands because the early favourite. Two-time All-Scholastic setter Raymond Weng, All-Scholastic exterior hitter Ethan McCarron and premier libero Jonathan Ochalla all return to headline a deep program well-known for its distinctive focus.
“We’re just kind of cornered on our own performance and keep getting better every day,” Powell stated. “It’s just like we’ve been doing. We just try to focus on our own performance. There’s a lot of good teams out there. We haven’t proved anything and neither have they, so everyone’s got a clean slate. Just try to attack it again.”
They’ll have their fingers full in a power-packed Bay State Conference. Newton North returns a few of the state’s prime gamers in setter Tyler Randall, Adam Christianson and Simon Verdeh to steer an equally deep group. Natick’s spectacular junior and sophomore courses options star setters Harrison Landry and Branch Barnes, whereas hitters Matt Solerno and Nick Bonavire assist make the RedHawks elite. Brookline additionally figures to threaten.
Lengthy Lexington is worked up to contend out of an expanded Middlesex League, that includes All-Scholastic exterior hitter Matteo Luciani (6-foot-2) alongside seniors Tammer Haddad (6-foot-8) and Justin Chang (6-foot-5) within the center. 2022 state semifinalist Winchester takes a youthful flip however figures to be within the combine by season’s finish behind returning starters Jamie Watt and Ellix Sandhu.
Versatile seniors Hogan Flechtner and Oscar Klappenbach had been on the Lincoln-Sudbury workforce that reached the Div. 1 state last two years in the past, hoping to steer the well-gelled Warriors to a different deep run with junior co-captain Kieran Fagan. The Dual County League is as robust as ever to navigate, heightened by the surge of Acton-Boxboro and star gamers Nick Heitman, Lucas Tan and Parth Pawar (setter). A youthful Newton South boasts libero Russell Lee alongside junior Zach Weiss and Auri Suder, whereas Cambridge seems to be on par for this system’s greatest season ever via skilled passers and a bevy of offensive choices.
Reigning Div. 1 finalist Westford Academy rebuilds this 12 months, competing via seniors Peter Burdin and Abhisar Anand. Boston Latin at all times courts a top quality workforce.
Lowell comes off this system’s greatest 12 months having graduated fairly a bit, however seems to be robust with new beginning setter Tyrell Lout and hitter Cody Fitzpatrick. The race contained in the Merrimack Valley Conference heats up, bolstered by just a few groups returning most of their key gamers. Haverhill seems to be highly effective behind star hitter Aaron Bennett. Andover and standout junior Marco Gomez-Cabo may flip heads. Kyler Shea and Gyan Mistry are proficient hitters for North Andover, setter Victor Lam has a notable reference to Dom Flores early on at Chelmsford, and Methuen ought to threaten.
St. John’s (S) has loaded the schedule in consecutive years and appears prepared for an enormous leap via Matt Deeley, Nolan Farrell and Ben Saro. Catholic Conference rival St. John’s Prep hopes to string collectively one other run behind Ty Lusk, Ben Bailey and Callum Brown, whereas BC High is off to a quick begin.
The eight-team Greater Boston League is a feel-good story with 4 faculties forming squads this 12 months, led by Malden and its returning starters Kyle Lee and Eric Mei. Revere may flip heads.
Taunton is making noise early, whereas Quincy hopes to compete after graduating 14. Brockton and New Bedford are at all times aggressive.
Coming off a fourth state title in 5 tournaments, Westfield misplaced a few of its dominant edge within the Div. 2 subject. Outside hitter Nick Maslar and new setter Ryder Finnie pair with libero Jonathan Bulan and stable play within the again row to assist it navigate a major problem for an additional championship.
It begins with the workforce it beat within the last. North Quincy returns 10 and all of its starters in hopes of placing the items collectively once more to complete the job this time, headlined by All-Scholastic junior Cameron Johnston, Nate Caldwell and setter Bobby Lin.
O’Bryant comes off a program-best season out of the Boston City League additionally returning everybody, anchored by a pair of extensively revered seniors in exterior hitter Jonathan Narsjo and setter Son Nguyen. An athletic, 14-junior Milford workforce seems to be robust as properly, primed for an additional journey to the state semifinals behind returning figures Arthur Gomes and Alex Guerra, and athletic middles Ryan Franklin and Joey Newman.
Teams in leagues loaded with Div. 1 title threats determine to face out, highlighted by Wayland with senior Grayson Getz, junior Joe Kelly and freshman phenom Finn Bell. Second-year-program Burlington seems to be able to make extra noise in its second 12 months, bolstered by returning seniors Zach Aloisi and James Burke.
Greater New Bedford is at all times within the combine and must be within the dialog come event time. Medfield returns a stable core to proceed rising this system out of the aggressive Tri-Valley League. Millis and King Philip look robust out of the gate alongside it. Nipmuc is at all times aggressive.
Central and Western Mass. are once more well-represented, too. Agawam will probably be a tricky out, already with a signature win over Westfield. West Springfield, Ludlow, Leominster, and Minnechaug all determine to be robust.
The prime of the Commonwealth Athletic Conference from final 12 months turns to a youthful group. Greater Lowell will rebuild on the fly behind libero Juan Naut, and Lowell Catholic does a lot of the identical behind returning starter Jayden Lopez.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Aaron Bennett, Haverhill
Adam Christianson, Newton North
Matt Deeley, St. John’s (S)
Cody Fitzpatrick, Lowell
Arthur Gomes, Milford
Nick Heitman, Acton-Boxboro
Cameron Johnston, North Quincy
Joe Kelly, Wayland
Owen Klappenbach, Lincoln-Sudbury
Harrison Landry, Natick
Matteo Luciani, Lexington
Ty Lusk, St. John’s Prep
Nick Maslar, Westfield
Ethan McCarron, Needham
Jonathan Narsjo, O’Bryant
Son Nguyen, O’Bryant
Tyler Randall, Newton North
Matt Solerno, Natick
Simon Verdeh, Newton North
Zach Weiss, Newton South
Raymond Weng, Needham
Source: www.bostonherald.com