Red Raiders’ volleyball falls to Central, 3-1

ATHOL — The Athol boys volleyball team will wait another day to clinch a spot in the Western Massachusetts Division I playoff tournament.

The Red Raiders (9-5) fell to Central High School, 3-1, on Friday. The game determined who would take over sole possession of first place in the East as the Red Raiders, who are now 5-2 in league play, would have taken over the top spot with a win against the Eagles, who are now 6-0 in league play.

“Good match,” offered Athol coach Sean MacDonald after the match. “(The Athol Red Raiders) fought off several set points in the first set to win set one and Central erased a big deficit in set three including a set point to win set three.”

Athol took game one 26-24. Central took game two 25-20, game three 26-24 and game four 25-21.

The Eagles are now 10-2 on the year.

Justin Blake led the Red Raiders with 11 kills. Hudson Carlson, Jordan Carrasquillo, Anthony Potenti, Colby Mason and Colby Soltysik each had four kills. Nick Casella had three kills, while Hayden Herk had one. Soltysik added 27 assists to his four kills.