HOLDEN — Is it possible that just seven matches into the regular season, and in moving forward to match No. 8, observers would witness playoff implications of this 2024 campaign?
For the Wachusett Regional High boys’ varsity volleyball team, the answer is a resounding yes.
The Mountaineer boys hosted a hustling Fitchburg High squad on April 22, needing a victory to improve the season record at 4-4, which sets in motion a positive outlook in reaching the .500 milestone mark for the first time this spring. A loss would have set the team back below .500, an undesirable scenario that would lead to an uphill climb into the postseason.
Scores in the 3-set sweep over the Red Raiders by Wachusett were 25-19, 25-13 and 25-17.
“This is the first time we’ve reached .500 in a long time, and we’re ready to build on it from here,” said RJ Dixon, who was first named captain as a junior and now again as a senior. “This year we’ve come together. There’s no negativity at practice and games. We’re really focusing on camaraderie and making sure we’re communicating.
“Everyone loves each other. We’re all good friends, and that’s really important to me. I believe that the relationships we’ve built this year are much bigger and stronger than they have been in previous years.”
“It’s all about having a good team environment,” senior captain Noah Chapman-Rigney affirmed. “You can’t have good communication if there’s arguing and people aren’t getting along. We want to win, and that has to come from good communication. If there’s a mistake, we can fix it pretty easily.
“This team just is fun to be on. In practice, we’re working hard but still having fun, but when it’s game time we have to focus and be locked in. We’re winning games, and winning is fun. Everyone has scored points this year, and that’s great to see.”
In agreement is WRHS head coach Peter Cranson, who enjoys the spirit that his 2024 team is playing with, as well as the consistent play. He knows that the team cannot pump the brakes if it wants to stay on course for an eventual playoff berth.
“This team, above most others, really has a sense of cohesion,” said Cranson. “It’s a team in its entirety. There aren’t big star players. Everyone plays well. We can interchange players if someone’s having an off night, and they’ll take care of business. These kids are just great fun to be with.”
“We have to stay diligent. We can’t get down if other teams go on big runs,” Dixon said. “It’s important to stay focused and locked in. What the other team does doesn’t affect us and how we do things. If we get frustrated, we play poorly, so we have to keep a good attitude no matter what.”
“We have to stay vigilant. Good teams are going to score points, but the important thing is what we do when they score against us,”” said Chapman-Rigney. “We need to come right back and score the next point, and we need to do it right away.”
Members of the 2024 Wachusett Regional High boys’ varsity volleyball team are Frank Sclar, Jared Andros, Alex Baez, Adrian Martinez, Isaiah De Pina, Winston Hoang, Jaxon Smith, Soren Haddock, Noah Chapman-Rigney, Luke Putney, Ben Konstantin and RJ Dixon. Captains are Dixon and Chapman-Rigney.
