By Alex Grondin '22
In the first game of the regular season the Eagles—who finished 10-1 in the prior season—faced off against the Haverhill Hillies on Connaughton Court. Despite the 3-1 score, both teams were playing at a high intensity and the game was competitive.
Set 1: SJP 26-24 HH
The first set was extremely close and there were plenty of momentum swings between the two teams. The Prep started off fairly strong, but the Hillies got back into it and took the lead, though it was never more than a few points. Eventually the Eagles took a 25-24 lead in a great rally, but due to it being a “win-by-2'' game, they needed one more point to clinch the first set. Thanks to captains Dan Schorr and Matt Ciampa, they were able to block a ball that was sent straight to the court and the Eagles took set one.
Set 2: SJP 16-25 HH
The second set was never a contest: the Hillies were dominating and whenever the Eagles won the point and the serve, they would give it back as they hit it into the net. The Hillies served up a storm as number 9 was relentless with his overhand jump serves. When asked after the game if the Prep ever thought to play conservative and just save the energy, senior Tucker Murphy said, “You can not play conservative, you have to run though it, volleyball is such a momentum sport it is insane, every piece of momentum you can take, you have to hold on to.”
Set 3: SJP 25-22 HH
In a 1-1 game, set 3 might be the most important, and when asked after the game what the message from coaches was, Murphy said, “They said, you are playing selfish balls, you have great setters in Dan (Schorr) and great hitters.” It seemed like something clicked as the Eagles played well this set. However, as Murphy said, volleyball is a momentum sport and despite at one time being only a few points from victory, the Hillies kept tying the game. As Alex Grondin and Christian Galatis said in the livestream, “it is even steven.” The Prep was able to grind out this set as big senior captain Brian Manning denied a return by the Hillies. When asked after the game about the never-give-up attitude and the determination to get the ball when seemingly impossible, Dan Schorr said, “That is volleyball, it is simply making sure the ball does not hit the ground, and Coach Brown, she really puts that hustle attitude in us.”
Set 4: SJP 25-17 HH
In set 4 the momentum was clearly on the Prep’s side of things, and it certainly did not hurt them when their fellow athletes from lacrosse and rugby came by to watch and encourage them. Though the Hillies had their moments in this set, it was definitely a team win, as everyone from Colby Lagrassa, Andrei Caplow, Leo D’Silva, Callum Brown, and everyone else stepped up. When asked what the win means to the team, Schorr said, “I mean this game was to set the momentum for the season, I think we have big things ahead of us, we have some really great players, passers, and hitters. This game was to set that momentum.”
No time to rest though for the Prep as they travel to North Andover High School tomorrow night at 5 pm to face the team who knocked them out in the first round last season.