Volleyball team looks to fill the gaps

Players+on+the+boys+varsity+volleyball+team+rise+to+block+a+hit+against+Lincoln-Sudbury+on++April+25.

Players on the boys’ varsity volleyball team rise to block a hit against Lincoln-Sudbury on April 25.

Andrew D'Amico

The boys’ varsity volleyball team is looking to have another successful season after reaching the State Championship match last year. The team will have to combat two main hindrances: youth and lack of experience in general. Captains seniors Oliver Moody and Kieran Ireland, along with key returners seniors Asa Greenaway and Hadyn Davies, will look to fill in important gaps left by impactful graduated players.

The team lost four crucial starters who graduated: Jack Fletcher, Cam Gordon, Ryan Kim and Kyle Wolff. Although the players contributed much to the team both offensively and defensively, many players on the current roster believe it can bounce back.

“There are a lot of new players,” Greenaway said. “The returning starters are Oliver Moody, Hadyn Davies, Kieran Ireland and I. We lost a middle, Cam Gordon, who played all the way around, which is pretty unique for a middle. We also lost two important defensive players: Ryan Kim and Kyle Wolff, and then Jack Fletcher, who was probably the best player in the state, so we miss him all around.”

According to Greenaway, head coach Phil George and assistant coach Wade Robidoux are looking to change the way the Warriors play. Last year, Fletcher dominated most of the offensive game for the team; this year, the team will have to rely more on its overall height and will attempt to incorporate some of the younger players into the offense.

“We are missing [Fletcher], [Gordon] and [Kim] from last year,” Moody said. “[Sophomores] Jack Staiti, Gavyn Davies and Ryan Fuller look to help fill those roles. Everyone has to step up after losing key players, especially [after losing] Jack, but we are ready for the challenge.”

“We have a lot of sophomores starting,” Greenaway said. “We had to replace our libero, our main defensive player, so Ryan Fuller is playing in that position. Jack Staiti is doing really well on the right side.”

With different players comes a different playing style. Greenaway and Moody expressed that losing Fletcher will be difficult to deal with, but it could also open up new doors offensively for the team.

“The team will definitely be different,” Greenaway said. “Last year most of our sets — almost half of our offense — went through Jack, so this year we’re going to have to spread everything around a lot more, and that’s something that’s harder to do as a team. I think if we do it right we can still be successful.”

Moody expressed a similar sentiment.

“The points have to be more spread out this year because Jack can’t do everything for us,” Moody said. “Everyone must be ready to hit on every point.”

With the addition of some taller players to the team, the main focus has changed. Greenaway and Moody agree that a major goal of the team is to be defensively sound.

“We’re trying to concentrate on being one of the best blocking teams in the state,” Greenaway said. “We want to shut down teams’ offenses. One thing we have to work on still is our defense and playing scrappier and not letting balls drop.”

Although the team has obstacles to face and a new identity to create, the start of the season has been mostly successful. The Warriors opened up their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Westford Academy, and their record now stands at seven wins and three losses.