HSMSE boys' volleyball team fails to win farewell home game

Evgeni Dobranov - Monicka Chang

The HSMSE boys volleyball team lost their season's last home game against Brandeis, 27-25, 25-19, this past Wednesday at Nat Holman Gym. This home game was very emotional because it was the last home game for three seniors who will graduate this year.

Senior libero Evgeni Dobranov had a productive game with nine digs and four service points. This was his last home game as a member of the team.

“The game felt pretty good,"Dobranov said."It felt good to be home and just to be able to play a little bit more.”

Austin Han and Mateusz Zukowski, the two other seniors, will also be graduating. Junior Nicholas Jorquera said there will be a shift in leadership next year with the absence of these seniors.

“A lot of players will emerge as leaders, obviously the seniors are going to be missed but I guess we have to continue; we’ve done that every year,” Jorquera said.

Jorquera had a fruitful game with four digs and six kills to accompany an ace. Sophomore Yussef Elbagoury also played well with an ace, five kills, and six digs. Despite Wednesday's loss, the production from their younger players show a bright future ahead of them.

Yussef Elbagoury - Monicka Chang

“The most important thing is to win as a team. As the season progresses we’ll hopefully get to hit a lot smarter, [and] as a team we will hopefully destroy some other teams,” Elbagoury said. 

Wednesday’s loss was tough; but that does not stop the HSMSE boys' volleyball team from grinding out some wins to finish the season on a good note. Three valuable players will be missed, but the team is in good hands.
 
Contributed by: Bruce Mayfield, Harry Smith

The replacements

Spencer Sharp / Sara Louie

The High School for Math, Science, and Engineering boys’ volleyball team is in a tough spot because of their top players graduating. The Dragons must now look to their current juniors to take their place next year and continue the teams’ success. Junior setter Spencer Sharp and junior outside hitter/defensive specialist Kofi Kordie are among these prospects.

Seniors Ardit Piroli and Jeremy Wain-Hirschberg led the team to a 7-5 season, taking them to the playoffs for the second straight year. This is the first time the Dragons have made the playoffs in back to back seasons in school history.

The Dragons’ hopes for a solid setter directed them toward Sharp. The accurate passes he contributed as the main setter were key to the team’s overall success.

“I think Spencer’s decision making as a setter will improve and that will come from more volleyball that he will play,” said coach Nick Diunte.

Kofi Kordie / Sara Louie

Kordie, a rookie to the team, will be a valuable asset next season. In his first game, he was thrust into a starting role due to complications with the availability of some of the starters.

“This was my first year playing and I had to learn very quickly,” said Kordie.

Improvement must not only come from these two if the Dragons want to enter the playoffs again next year. Other athletes who saw respectable playing time will have to harvest more of their abilities for their inevitable increased use.

“I think there is going to be more playing time for Austin Han as well and then we have to hope we get a few freshmen come in or maybe a sophomore that's in the school that wants to play that we can develop because we are losing four very talented and skilled seniors,” said Diunte.

These graduating seniors will create big gaps on the court for the athletes who will start next year. With prospects like Sharp and Kordie, the team has the capability to continue their playoff appearance streak; however, there still remains a need for a strong set of rookies.

Contributed by Velid Mulic and Kian Zadeh