Raiders making statement on volleyball court

HHS boys beat Central for fifth win

By: John E. Powers
   
   The Hillsborough High School boys’ volleyball team expected to be better this spring in its second year of being a varsity squad.
   How much better has been proven early.
   The Raiders, who went 4-19 in their inaugural season, improved their record to 5-3 with a landmark 19-25, 25-20, 25-22 win over Hunterdon Central last week. The Raiders also beat Roselle Catholic 25-19, 38-36 and lost to Bridgewater-Raritan 25-20, 25-16.
   In beating Hunterdon Central, regarded with Bridgewater-Raritan as being one of the perennial strong teams in the Skyland Conference and usually a state-ranked team, the Raiders showed just how quickly they have improved.
   "It all came down to doing what we do in practice," Hillsborough head coach Todd Sudol said.
   Sophomore Kyle Downey was outstanding in the Central match. He had 23 assists. Sean Kelly had five digs and three kills. Middle blocker Joe Sheridan had nine kills and two blocks and junior opposite Mike Argueta had five kills and five digs.
   "Between games you get a few minutes and we changed our plan," said Sudol, whose team will play Central in the last game of the regular season May 16. "There was one outside hitter that was especially hurting us, so we adjusted our defense in how we lined up. We focused on the outside hitter and adjusted to blocking on defense."
   Argueta said the team committed to raising its game in the second set.
   "We turned it up," he said. "They beat us up pretty good in the first game. But we put our spikes down and they couldn’t return them. It all has to do with Downey. He’s setting the whole time and we’re putting them down. This year we all can score points."
   Sudol, who led his HHS boys’ swimming team to a state championship in 2005 and sectional championships the last three years, said the volleyball team has taken on a new personality.
   "They always find a way to win and communicate on the court with each other – they trust each other," Sudol said. "They are adapting."
   Downey said the team chemistry has definitely paid off.
   "We still have new people who are learning the game," he said.
   He said he was nervous during the Central games.
   "It was pretty wild," Downey said.
   Downey said that Sudol’s decision to switch from a 6-2 formation to a 5-1 set has been one of the reasons for the improvements.
   "I set the whole time and our hitters are used to my sets," he said.
   Downey had 25 assists and a kill against Roselle Catholic. Sheridan had five blocks and six kills, middle blocker Jake Lefevre had a block and seven kills and hitter Conor Corcoran had 10 digs and nine kills. The Raiders rallied from a 22-15 deficit to beat Roselle Catholic in the wild second game.
   "That game went on forever," Downey said.
   Hitter Evan Schwab had three service points and five digs against Bridgewater-Raritan – Sheridan had two blocks and four kills and Corcoran had six digs and three kills.
   "Conor is a phenomenal passer," Argueta said.
   The Raiders now have a goal of making the state playoffs and finishing with at least a .500 record. The Raiders were slated to play at West Windsor-Plainsboro South Tuesday, Roselle Catholic Wednesday and Manchester Friday in this week’s games. They return home next Tuesday for a game against Watchung Hills. The Raiders beat Watchung earlier in the season.