ATHOL — The Athol High School varsity boys volleyball team overcame an 0-2 start to reach the playoffs last season.
First-year coach Sean MacDonald moved players around and found several key positional fits. The Red Raiders won five straight after the winless start and finished the regular season 12-8, which earned them the 11th seed in the Western Massachusetts Division 1 playoffs.
The team worked like a puzzle, needing every piece to bring out the picture. With several returning players and seven seniors, the Red Raiders maintained the foundation that should help the team improve upon its 2017 success.
“We’ve got a few guys back that played last year, so that’s kind of nice,” MacDonald said.
After moving from setter to outside hitter last season, Justin Blake was at the forefront of last year’s success and returns for his senior season. He finished the year with 184 kills, the second most on the team. He continued to develop throughout the offseason, playing in the Bay State Games.
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“Justin was a big piece of the puzzle,” MacDonald said. “It’s like the last piece of the puzzle that makes it fit. … When he was gone for three or four matches (last year) it all fell apart again and when he came back we started winning again. So he was a big piece in that equation.”
Then-freshman Colby Soltysik moved into the setter position as part of the reshuffle. He came on strong after settling into the role, accumulating 418 assists. Soltysik is another part of the puzzle that MacDonald expects to contribute again.
“I think Colby has just fallen in love with the game of volleyball,” MacDonald said. “He’s just really into it. He’s learning and he’s getting better and he really wants to get better. Sometimes he gets frustrated when it doesn’t happen as fast as he wants it to, but he’s one of the best young setters around in western Mass.”
Hudson Carlson returns along with Nick Casella and Jordan Carrasquillo. Carrasquillo should get more playing time this season after providing some situational help last season. Casella is a jack-of-all-trades type of player.
Replacing the production of 2017 graduate Josh Herk will be a challenge. Herk led the team with 195 kills and was second in digs with 185. MacDonald will use multiple players to fill the second outside hitter role opposite of Blake. He has not solidified an every day player for that role. Sophomore Anthony Potenti expressed interest in the position and will get time there. MacDonald will use newcomer and senior Hayden Herk, Josh’s younger brother, in the position as well. Colby Mason, another senior newcomer, could get time there as well.
“That’s kind of the position that is still up for grabs,” MacDonald said. “Those two guys (Mason and Herk) are catching on pretty fast and that’s a possibility. That one is not set in stone.”
Sophomore Zach Aldrich will be on the varsity team full time after seeing glimpses of varsity action last year. Sophomore Matt Willhite also joins the varsity team.
Athol opens Friday at Ware High School at 5 p.m. The team’s home opener is scheduled for April 9 against Belchertown.