By Warren Rappleyea
On the heels of yet another 20-plus win season, Old Bridge High School’s boys volleyball team will enter the spring season with virtually an entire new — and very young — lineup.
“Just because we’re young doesn’t mean we’re not talented,” coach Andrew Hopman said. “There may be some growing pains, but we’re very deep and the talent level is pretty similar throughout our roster.”
To make sure his team is tested, Hopman has set up a scrimmage schedule that includes several state powers, including Bridgewater-Raritan High School, Christian Brothers Academy, Eastern Regional High School, Hunterdon Central Regional High School and Southern Regional High School. The Knights will also meet several of those teams in the regular season.
“We want to find out what we’re made of,” said Hopman, whose team is a perennial contender in the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC). “You don’t get any better by playing teams you know you can beat. That doesn’t help anyone. When you play the best, it’s so much easier to identify the areas you need to work on.”
Old Bridge returns just one varsity regular, co-captain Elan Dorkhman. The outside hitter made a strong impression as a freshman last spring, recording 14 kills, 12 service aces and 19 digs. Junior setter Brian McGeehan, who saw limited action a year ago, is the Knights’ other captain.
Powerful senior hitter Mikhail Pokrashchenko, libero Michael Turovskiy and junior hitter Grant Totten all got a taste of varsity action last season. Totten, who is now healthy after struggling through a knee injury last spring, is the fourth member of his family to play for Hopman, as cousins Ken, Matt and Michael also took the court for Old Bridge.
Senior Randall Anderson and juniors Ravi Kandula and Pavlo Oplaknets will be in the middle along with sophomore Michael Schoen. Juniors Vladimir Kucheriavyy and Teddy Ha will see time on the outside and can also move to the middle. Sophomore Antonio Roccio will back up McGeehan at setter.
“Right now, it’s an issue of determining what we’re really good at as a team,” Hopman said. “At this point, I think it’s going to be defense. Once we determine that, our goal will be to become better than any other team at that facet of the game. The other thing that’s always important is too serve well. We will stress that, too.”
Old Bridge, is scheduled to open the season April 1 at South Brunswick High School. In addition to its tough non-conference schedule, the Knights take on tough GMC foes, such as J.P. Stevens High School, East Brunswick High School and Saint Joseph High School of Metuchen.
“In some ways, we have our work cut out for us,” Hopman said. “Still, I’m confident. Half of our guys also play for clubs — and all of our guys know the game very well. I kind of feel like we’re starting from scratch but with a lot of talent and potential. I’m anxious to get going.”