EAST LONGMEADOW — After a 25-14 loss in Game 1, the Athol boys varsity volleyball team cruised to three straight wins to defeat the East Longmeadow Spartans, 3-1, Tuesday night in an East League matchup.
The Red Raiders improved to 2-0, while the Spartans fell to 1-1.
The Red Raiders went 1-1 last season against the Spartans, who finished the year 11-7 and earned the eighth seed in the Western Massachusetts Division 1 playoffs.
“Great response from the boys after an abysmal Set 1,” Athol coach Sean MacDonald said. “Sets 2 and 3 were a battle and (we) cruised in Set 4 when we were feeling good.”
The Red Raiders won the final three games 25-20, 25-20 and 25-12.
Justin Blake led the team with 15 kills and 15 digs. Colby Soltysik had 34 assists along with two aces. Jordan Carrasquillo had nine kills, while Anthony Potenti had four.
Athol will face Central High School on Thursday in Springfield.
The Red Raiders went 1-1 against the Golden Eagles last season. Central earned the 10th seed in the 2017 Western Massachusetts Division 1 Tournament.