3/29 – Andover: 2, EF: 0
3/29 – Andover: 3, Choate: 0
Boys Volleyball played in a doubleheader last Saturday, defeating Choate after also winning against EF which extended their winning streak to three games. With a perfect 3-0 record, the team is off to a tremendous start to the season.
Coming into the season with high expectations and a roster full of returners, the team has been adjusting to new roles and fine-tuning its skills. According to Ray Williams ’26, the start of the season has been about ironing out the kinks and getting everyone comfortable in their roles.
“Our expectations this year are really high, we are a really good team this year. We have a lot of experience going in, a lot of our players are returners, and part of the season has been trying to find where everyone fits in this year in their role. But we are still working out those kinks and getting in the swing of things with our season,” said Williams.
During practices, the team has focused on high levels of communication and mental preparation, emphasizing the importance of sticking to the game plan and each member’s individual roles before diving into the physical aspects of the game. Williams notes that this mental groundwork has been essential for a successful start.
“We do a lot of talking, making sure our playbook is all set. A lot of mental preparation so we know what everyone’s role is on the court, like at the beginning of every season, having to work out a lot of the mental things before working on the physical game, and I think we have done a really good job with figuring all of those things out,” said Williams.
Arthur Wu ’25 credits the team’s strong start to their offseason preparation and bonding, which helped lay a solid foundation for the season.
“We worked together well as a team because we began to cultivate a sense of community long before the season actually started. We had open runs during the offseason so a lot of us could figure out some more finicky details in our playstyle,” said Wu.
Also, Wu highlighted Ajay Mistry ’26 for remaining composed throughout the game, as well as his impressive setting. He also praised Mistry for quickly adapting to varsity’s play after being on the Junior Varsity team last year.
“One player that stood out to me was our setter Ajay. He kept his cool and stayed calm during more chaotic parts of our game. Setting is a really difficult job, and considering that it’s his first year on varsity, he did an awesome job,” said Wu.
When asked about who stood out this past weekend, Williams pointed to Senior captain Wu, who has stepped up as a leader on the team while also making a significant impact offensively.
“I am going to highlight Arthur, senior captain, he’s been exceptional. He has the most experience on the team, a lot of offensive power runs through him, and he has done a really good job of stepping into that role and playing his part as a leader on the team,” said Williams.
The atmosphere was incredibly positive and energized, with each player constantly cheering for one another. Wu was particularly proud of the team’s overall performance, especially from the newcomers.
“The team did great, especially those who were newer to the team. I love how we hype each other up and give each other encouragement. My favorite moments during the game were when we got some really loud kills. The whole team was hyped up and celebrating really loud. When I checked the film, even the benches of the other teams were reacting in shock to some of our swings,” said Wu.
Boys Volleyball will face off against NMH at home this Saturday.
