As the second year of the newer two-division, statewide tournament kicks into gear, there’s a buzz the boys volleyball community hasn’t really felt since before the pandemic cancelled the 2020 season.
With some key departures from a historic Needham program, the Div. 1 state title race has broken back open.
Rockets head coach Dave Powell isn’t expecting to catch lightning in a bottle like he did over the last two years with a 46-game win streak and two overpowering state title runs, but Needham still stands as the early favorite. Two-time All-Scholastic setter Raymond Weng, All-Scholastic outside hitter Ethan McCarron and premier libero Jonathan Ochalla all return to headline a deep program famous for its exceptional focus.
“We’re just kind of cornered on our own performance and keep getting better every day,” Powell said. “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 hands full in a power-packed Bay State Conference. Newton North returns some of the state’s top players in setter Tyler Randall, Adam Christianson and Simon Verdeh to lead an equally deep group. Natick’s impressive junior and sophomore classes features star setters Harrison Landry and Branch Barnes, while hitters Matt Solerno and Nick Bonavire help make the RedHawks elite. Brookline also figures to threaten.
Lengthy Lexington is excited to contend out of an expanded Middlesex League, featuring All-Scholastic outside hitter Matteo Luciani (6-foot-2) alongside seniors Tammer Haddad (6-foot-8) and Justin Chang (6-foot-5) in the middle. 2022 state semifinalist Winchester takes a youthful turn but figures to be in the mix by season’s end behind returning starters Jamie Watt and Ellix Sandhu.
Versatile seniors Hogan Flechtner and Oscar Klappenbach were on the Lincoln-Sudbury team that reached the Div. 1 state final two years ago, hoping to lead the well-gelled Warriors to another deep run with junior co-captain Kieran Fagan. The Dual County League is as tough as ever to navigate, heightened by the surge of Acton-Boxboro and star players Nick Heitman, Lucas Tan and Parth Pawar (setter). A younger Newton South boasts libero Russell Lee alongside junior Zach Weiss and Auri Suder, while Cambridge looks on par for the program’s best season ever through experienced passers and a bevy of offensive options.
Reigning Div. 1 finalist Westford Academy rebuilds this year, competing through seniors Peter Burdin and Abhisar Anand. Boston Latin always courts a quality team.
Lowell comes off the program’s best year having graduated quite a bit, but looks strong with new starting setter Tyrell Lout and hitter Cody Fitzpatrick. The race inside the Merrimack Valley Conference heats up, bolstered by a few teams returning most of their key players. Haverhill looks powerful behind star hitter Aaron Bennett. Andover and standout junior Marco Gomez-Cabo could turn heads. Kyler Shea and Gyan Mistry are talented hitters for North Andover, setter Victor Lam has a notable connection with Dom Flores early on at Chelmsford, and Methuen should threaten.
St. John’s (S) has loaded the schedule in consecutive years and looks ready for a big leap through Matt Deeley, Nolan Farrell and Ben Saro. Catholic Conference rival St. John’s Prep hopes to string together another run behind Ty Lusk, Ben Bailey and Callum Brown, while BC High is off to a fast start.
The eight-team Greater Boston League is a feel-good story with four schools forming squads this year, led by Malden and its returning starters Kyle Lee and Eric Mei. Revere could turn heads.
Taunton is making noise early, while Quincy hopes to compete after graduating 14. Brockton and New Bedford are always competitive.
Coming off a fourth state title in five tournaments, Westfield lost some of its dominant edge in the Div. 2 field. Outside hitter Nick Maslar and new setter Ryder Finnie pair with libero Jonathan Bulan and solid play in the back row to help it navigate a significant challenge for another championship.
It starts with the team it beat in the final. North Quincy returns 10 and all of its starters in hopes of putting the pieces together again to finish 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 also returning everyone, anchored by a pair of widely respected seniors in outside hitter Jonathan Narsjo and setter Son Nguyen. An athletic, 14-junior Milford team looks strong as well, primed for another trip 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 figure to stand out, highlighted by Wayland with senior Grayson Getz, junior Joe Kelly and freshman phenom Finn Bell. Second-year-program Burlington looks ready to make more noise in its second year, bolstered by returning seniors Zach Aloisi and James Burke.
Greater New Bedford is always in the mix and should be in the conversation come tournament time. Medfield returns a solid core to continue growing the program out of the competitive Tri-Valley League. Millis and King Philip look strong out of the gate alongside it. Nipmuc is always competitive.
Central and Western Mass. are again well-represented, too. Agawam will be a tough out, already with a signature win over Westfield. West Springfield, Ludlow, Leominster, and Minnechaug all figure to be strong.
The top of the Commonwealth Athletic Conference from last year turns to a younger group. Greater Lowell will rebuild on the fly behind libero Juan Naut, and Lowell Catholic does much of the same behind returning starter Jayden Lopez.
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