Argueta ignites volleyball team

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

By: John E. Powers
   By the end of last year, the first Hillsborough High School boys’ volleyball season, it was apparent to head coach Todd Sudol what kind of player he had in Mike Argueta.
   "He ended up being one of our best players," Sudol said.
   Argueta’s back at his opposite position and has taken a step forward in his development. The Raiders finished their first week of the season at 2-2 with Argueta playing a pivotal part in the victories over Plainfield and Watchung Hills.
   He’s this week’s Hillsborough Beacon Athlete of the Week.
   The junior had five digs and four kills for Hillsborough in a 25-19, 25-16 win over Watchung Hills Thursday. He had four kills and four aces as Hillsborough lost 25-18, 25-19 to West Windsor Plainsboro South Tuesday. He also had an outstanding game in Monday’s victory at Plainfield.
   Argueta is one of 12 soccer players on Sudol’s roster.
   "I never played it before," said Argueta, a center-midfielder in soccer for the Raiders’ soccer team who plays for the Hillsborough Warriors during the spring. "I was pretty good when I played with my friends at the high school. I like getting those kill shots.
   "It’s easy hitting and blocking and serving," he added. "But getting those kill shots and smacking them down – the coach got really amped during one game and everybody was laughing. When you pound it and they can’t return it, it’s a good feeling."
   Sudol said that Argueta’s play on the soccer field correlates to the way he delivers in volleyball. Sudol said that the soccer players have set an example of great work ethic for their younger teammates.
   "It’s about working together," Argueta said. "You have give and goes like you have in soccer. In soccer, my job is to give the ball to the forwards just like the defense moves the ball to me. It’s the same thing in volleyball."
   "They have great reaction time," Sudol said. "They are quick on their feet. Where in soccer it’s foot and eye coordination, in volleyball it’s hand and eye coordination. There’s a lot of the same mentality and movements."