The idea isn’t precisely flashy, however Natick sophomore Branch Barnes is fairly overestimated over it.
In the second set of a Bay State Conference bout April 27, a proficient Brookline squad was hammering spikes. It attacked the world round Harrison Landry maybe essentially the most inside the body’s first eight factors, and the junior RedHawks setter wanted to make 4 digs inside the stretch.
Normally, placing a setter into that spot forces a crew out of system. Most packages run a 5-1 rotation with simply the one setter. But Natick, which went on an 8-0 run earlier than ultimately successful the match 3-0, is completely different.
“I set four balls from right-side, which is huge,” Barnes mentioned. “When the setter (Landry) gets taken out like that, four times in eight points? We converted on all of them. … The big thing is (we have) two setters at all times. It’s very hard for us to get put out of system, we can usually get a good swing down.”
It’s widespread for groups to run a situational 6-2 rotation, or a minimum of experiment with one.
Six hitters and two setters – versus 5 hitters round one setter – is a no brainer benefit. But one setter sometimes must be subbed out as soon as they rotate to the entrance row, bringing in a participant with stronger expertise on the internet. That 6-2 turns right into a 5-1, thus limiting the crew’s hitting choices.
Natick used to do it final 12 months, subbing out a then-sophomore Landry – who hadn’t fairly grown into the body that’s contributed to huge enhancements in his blocking and hitting. But now, alongside exterior hitter-turned setter Barnes, the RedHawks have one thing particular cooking.
“Usually we don’t have the luxury like we do now with Branch and Harrison … at this level, you don’t see (a traditional 6-2) a lot,” mentioned Natick assistant coach Bob Harless. “When (Landry) came into tryouts this season, we were like, ‘Yeah, we can definitely play him in the front row now.’ And Branch is a great front row player, he jumps higher than anyone else on the team.”
As a consequence, Natick has a severe edge over a lot of the state.
Landry is an distinctive setter, typically main the 2 in assists each sport. Barnes isn’t too far behind him, although, and performs a pivotal function as a blocker and hitter. The sophomore teams in properly with senior exterior hitters Matt Salerno and Nick Bonavire, and the emergence of John Carroll inside an bettering bunch of middles offers the RedHawks a bevy of electrical hitting choices always on the courtroom.
Throw in a premier libero in Shawn Ferguson, and Natick is without doubt one of the most well-rounded squads on the market. That reveals in its 8-1 file and No. 2 spot within the newest MIAA Div. 1 energy rankings. The RedHawks’ solely loss is to unbeaten Needham.
It all begins with the 6-2.
“Having the two setters on the court – two setters that can hit and play defense – just makes us that much more dangerous,” Harless mentioned. “We never give teams a break when those guys are rotating around or in the back row because we always have good hitters and blockers in the front. … We have Matt and Nick, and then when one of them rotates into the back row, now we have Branch in the front. So it’s like we have three good, good hitters.”
“In a 5-1 offense, when the setter gets to the front row, there’s only two hitters available,” Landry added. “But in the 6-2, there’s always three hitters available. I think having that third option, that’s what makes us who we are. That’s what makes us better than other teams.”
The relationship between Landry and Barnes has proved vital, as properly. Harless observes they’re most likely the 2 closest associates of any two gamers on the crew, on and off the courtroom. Landry drives Barnes, who lives very shut, to crew get-togethers. As a setter for the reason that seventh-grade, he’s additionally helped Barnes grow to be the newer function.
“I played freshman and sophomore year, and the age gap between the players was kind of difficult,” Landry mentioned. “This year, we’re all pretty close.”
“I thought the biggest thing is (Landry’s) able to understand what (Suxho’s) trying to tell us,” Barnes added. “Coming on freshman year, just meeting (Suxho), he can be a little intimidating because he’s a pretty intense guy. I think the big thing was almost be like a translator.”
BC High begins robust
By May 6 of final 12 months, BC High was 3-6 with a bevy of robust losses. At 8-3 and No. 11 within the newest Div. 1 energy rankings a 12 months later, the Eagles are rolling to a a lot completely different tune.
Wins over Winchester, New Bedford and Boston Latin are notable, and their solely three losses are to groups that determine to make an enormous splash come tourney time. Captains Mason Cleary, James Shriver and Grayson Kamadeu lead a crew with none seniors, making for a promising future as properly.
“Our guys are excited at the start we’ve had,” mentioned coach James Chen. “Overall, this is the strongest serving team I’ve had in a while, which has really helped us as well.”
Side-outs
The Merrimack Valley Conference is churning out extra high-quality parity past Lowell’s unbeaten begin. Haverhill, Chelmsford, Methuen, Andover and North Andover are all proving to be on the identical degree as all rank properly within the energy rankings.
Essex Tech has rallied splendidly from an 0-3 begin, successful its final six. Barrett Cross stands out at setter to get hitters Ryan Cole and Ryan Lovasco closely concerned.
Wayland freshman phenom Finn Bell is coming into his personal, impressing head coach Phil George as a future stalwart within the state already. An 18-kill, 13-dig efficiency with two aces to assist beat Lincoln-Sudbury 3-2 was his first full effort.
Just three unbeaten groups stay within the state, all in Div. 1 – Needham (13-0), Lowell (12-0) and Acton-Boxboro (10-0).
Source: www.bostonherald.com