Boys' volleyball
Coach of the Year
Tony Hajjar, Lawrence
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The 2004 Lancers did what last year's squad could not: beat St. John's Prep in the tournament. Lawrence blanked the Prep 3-0 in the North sectional finals before bowing out to Millis in the state semifinals. Hajjar guided a team dominated by underclassmen to the Merrimack Valley Championship and an 18-2 regular season mark. Hajjar and his Lancers advanced farther into the tournament than any previous Lawrence volleyball team. A 1973 graduate of Lawrence High School and fan favorite, Hajjar has served seven seasons as coach at his alma mater. Hajjar has much to look forward to in 2005 with return of All-Scholastics Bora Keo and Dennis Lean. | |
Player of the Year
Chris Lennon, Catholic Memorial
DIVISION 1 |
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This 6-0 senior has been called a lot of names in his four years at CM: all-star, All-Scholastic in 2003, ``a machine'' by Greater New Bedford coach Mike Holden, ``a complete player'' by his own coach Kevin Conroy. Now he can add 2004 Globe Player of the Year to his accomplishments. Lennon ended the season with 576 kills, 292 assists and 75 blocks for a Knights team that finished 19-3 overall and reached the state semifinals. More than just a heavy hitter, Lennon played superbly setting opposite All-Scholastic teammate Rob Conroy. The multi-talented Lennon will take his game to the University of New Haven in the fall where he will play Div. 2 volleyball for the Chargers. | |
The All-Scholastics
Kevin Barry, St. John's Prep
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An imposing force at 6-7, 225 pounds, Barry was an anchor upfront for the Prep attack, a team just two years removed from a state crown. The two-time Merrimack Volleyball Conference all-star notched 160 kills and 192 blocks for a St. John's team that compiled a 17-3 record in the regular season and earned a No. 2 seed in the North sectional. For his career, Barry amassed impressive numbers with 265 kills and 302 blocks. When not on the court for the Eagles and last year's Coach of the Year Andrew Viselli, this middle hitter cites bowling as his main interest. A National Honor Society member, Barry will trade Eagles for Bobcats when he enrolls at Bates College in the fall. | |
Degino Capellan, Methuen
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Capellan was Mr. Everything for Methuen this year. Hitting, blocking, digging and passing, he did it all for the Rangers. Despite his team's struggles, Capellan piled up 420 kills in 20 matches, including breaking the regular season school record with 34 kills in a single match. The 2004 Merrimack Valley Division 1 Player of the Year, Capellan finished his career with countless accolades on and off the court. A member of the National and Spanish National Honor Societies, he also repeated as team MVP in 2003 and 2004 while being named an MVC All-Star as a junior and all-conference as a senior. Capellan hopes to continue playing at Rivier College in the fall. | |
Dan Coleman, Millis
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This junior captain certainly helped to fill the void left by the departures of last year's Player of the Year Tom Newman and All-Scholastic Scott Maier for Millis. The 5-11 outside hitter spearheaded the Mohawk's run to its second consecutive state final in 2004, a title it claimed in 2003 after an undefeated season. With surprising power from his 150 pound frame, Coleman fueled Millis' attack. Strong serving and excellent defense made Coleman a key contributor to all facets of the Mohawk's success. Although only a fifth seed to enter tournament play (12-7), Millis found its form at the perfect time and reeled off five straight before falling to Minnechaug in the state finals. | |
Rob Conroy, Catholic Memorial
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Conroy picked up a volleyball in pre-school and, if his hitting prowess is an indication, this senior has learned how to put it down. A four-time league all-star in the Eastern Alliance, Conroy spent time as both setter and hitter for the South sectional champs CM. The 5-10 southpaw averaged 3.6 kills and 12.4 assists per game this year to quarterback the Knights along with 2004 Player of the Year Chris Lennon. A two-sport athlete, Conroy was CM's soccer MVP and an all-Catholic Conference selection at sweeper. Conroy will head to Chestnut Hill in the fall to pursue his interests in computer science, philosophy and, of course, volleyball as a BC Eagle. | |
Sean Correia, Greater New Bedford
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Correia secured his place in Greater New Bedford lore when he steered the Bears to an improbable win over New Bedford in the South sectional semifinals. That night he dished out 52 assists and notched 12 kills in ``one of the biggest upsets in program history'' according to coach Mike Holden. The 6-1 setter finished 2004 with 489 assists, 116 kills and 154 digs. In the process, Sean passed older brother Ray as the Bear's all-time assists leader with 1048. Holden called the brothers ``the largest influences on the programs' 9 years.'' The Bears will look to build on this season's success in 2005 but will have to do so without the setting of three-year starter Correia. | |
Allan DelValle, Billerica
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Chalk up one more All-Scholastic from the Merrimack Valley Conference. Named MVC Division 2 Player of the Year, DelValle collected a plethora of honors, including two years as team captain, all-star and all-conference nods. The senior helped Billerica to a 13-7 regular season record and a No. 7 seed in the North sectional. When not playing volleyball, DelValle enjoys hanging out with friends and going to the movies. He also garnered the Coaches Award for the Billerica basketball team this past winter. An honor roll student all four years, DelValle looks forward to the fall when he will enroll at Endicott College. A sports lover at heart, he plans to major in athletic training. | |
Matt Ducey, Wareham
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Ducey was wild this year for the Wareham Vikings. Setting, hitting and defending, he posted some serious numbers (193 assists, 183 kills and 97 digs). The two-year captain and three-year starter finished his career with 300 assists, 400 kills and 200 digs. Ducey led Wareham to a 12-2 regular season record and a first-round bye in the South sectional. At 6-0, he also captained the Vikings' basketball team this past season and played soccer in the fall. His accomplishments do not cease with athletics, as Ducey won the Dartmouth Book Award and earned the Top 10 Gold Scholar award all four years. The Providence-bound senior also enjoys movies and volunteerism. | |
Gedeon Endeshaw, Quincy
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A familiar face in the All-Scholastic line-up, Endeshaw joins Correia, Lennon and Westman as repeats from 2003. Amazingly, Endeshaw made the team again despite missing four games for Quincy during the season. Even with the absence, this 6-0 middle hitter still pumped out over 150 kills, more than 50 blocks and 20 service aces to go with an average of 7 digs per contest. A four-year varsity player and three-year South Alliance all-star, Endeshaw captained the Presidents in his final campaign. Not limited to volleyball, Endeshaw was an ACL all-star for soccer and a member of the Quincy basketball team. Gedeon will attend Newbury College in the fall. | |
Steve Keller, Lincoln-Sudbury
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This 5-9, 170 pound setter marshalled a potent Lincoln-Sudbury attack to much success in the talent-laden Eastern Alliance. Tabbed Eastern Alliance MVP in 2004, Keller added to a growing resume that includes league all-star selections as a sophomore and junior. In leading his team to a 13-4 regular season record, Keller posted impressive numbers for the season, including 317 assists, 39 kills and 35 aces. In addition to his duties at L-S, Keller will captain the Beantown Volleyball Club set to compete in July at the national championships in Austin, Texas. A Lincoln-Sudbury scholar, Keller is undecided about his college plans but wishes to play volleyball wherever he enrolls. | |
Bora Keo, Lawrence
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One of Tony Hajjar's mainstays, this 5-7 outside hitter played a key role in Lawrence's run to the state's final four. Somewhat undersized on a team full of towers, Keo left little doubt of his abilities with his thundering kills. He collected 260 kills and 120 blocks during a year in which Lancers hitters showcased their strength and power. Although only a junior, the forward-thinking Keo has his sights set on Long Beach State University after he wraps up his career at Lawrence. With the team's regular season marks improving from 15-5 in 2003 to 18-2 in 2004, Keo and his fellow Lancers should stage another push for the state title in 2005. | |
Dennis Lean, Lawrence
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Lawrence's diminutive setter showed the kind of resolve in Lawrence's state semifinal loss to Millis that encapsulated his team's entire season. Injuring his knee early in Game 2, Lean remained in the game, piling up 38 assists despite noticeable discomfort. ``He's very tough that kid-plays with the pain no matter what,'' said Hajjar after the loss. Hajjar will hope for even greater performances in 2005 from his star setter and the rest of his Lancer squad. Outside of volleyball, Lean enjoys going to the movies and playing basketball. He has not yet decided on college but is looking forward to playing in the Bay State games this summer alongside Lancers teammate Bora Keo. | |
Jeff Longo, New Bedford
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Yet another stellar player in a long line of Whaler greats. Longo etched his name time and again into the New Bedford record books. His 204 points served in 2004 were good for second on the single season list and third on the all-time list, while his 587 assists on the year ranked him third all-time for single-season outputs. New Bedford's season came to a surprising halt when the team was upset by local rival Greater New Bedford in the South sectional semifinals. The loss, however, did little to diminish the state's most storied volleyball program. No doubt the Whalers will be right back at it in 2005. Unfortunately, Longo will have relocated to UMass-Amherst by then. | |
Jonathan Mutch, Lincoln-Sudbury
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Mutch has made a habit of teaming up with fellow Warrior Steve Keller. The two hooked up on the court this season whenever Lincoln-Sudbury needed a lift. On the year, Mutch notched 142 kills, good for 30 percent of the team's total. He effected play from behind the service line too, collecting 83 service points including 9 aces. The 6-2 outside hitter was twice named to the Eastern Alliance All-Star team and joined Keller as a league MVP nominee. The senior co-captain also enjoys weight lifting and working on his car when he's not in action for the Warriors. For a change of pace and weather, Mutch will enroll at the University of Arizona in the fall. | |
Matthew Rodrigues, New Bedford
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Make that a pair of Whalers on the All-Scholastic team. The 6-2, 175 pound Rodrigues put down 233 kills and picked up 95 digs. Rodrigues was a crucial cog in a season that saw New Bedford finish 19-1 in the regular season and become the only team to knock off eventual state champs Minnechaug. Rodrigues maintains his volleyball edge in the off-season playing in The Bay State Games and for club team the Coastal Sharks. The outside hitter was also named a Standard Times all-star in his junior year. Rodrigues donned the Whalers jersey during the winter as a member of the New Bedford basketball program. Rodrigues will attend Bridgewater State College in the fall. | |
Jason Tilley, St. John's Prep
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Better make that five sets of teammates in this year's All-Scholastics squad. Tilley joins Kevin Barry as the two Prep reps. The senior hitter finished his career in Danvers with 356 kills, 180 digs and 110 blocks. Tilley was also named team captain, team MVP, MVC All-Star and MVC All-Conference during his storied four years. He is a member of the National and German National Honor societies, won the Math award twice and the German award three times. The 6-4, 220 pound senior has participated in the 2003 Bay State Games and was a member of the Nor'easter club team from 2001 to 2003. Tilley will become a Nittany Lion in the fall when he enrolls at Penn State. | |
Matthew Westman, Newton North
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Only a junior and this is already Westman's second trip to the All-Scholastics page. The 6-2 setter steered the Tigers to a 13-5 regular season record and guided the team to the South sectional semi-finals. Westman has been twice been tabbed a Bay State Conference first-team all-star and a Daily News Tribune all-star as a freshman and sophomore. This honor student, who was named a 2003 Newton North Student-Athlete of the Month, will captain the Tigers' basketball team next winter. He plans to compete this summer in The Bay State Games as he did last year. In his spare time, Westman likes to travel, practice his French and read The Boston Globe. | |
Ivan Wong, Boston Latin
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It was a year of firsts for Latin and Wong. After leading Latin to its first-ever Eastern Alliance championship, Wong now makes his first appearance on the All-Scholastic team. The 5-11 outside hitter was named to the Eastern Alliance first team in 2003 and 2004. Wong capped off a solid season statistically with 368 kills, 322 digs and 96 blocks in 20 matches for Latin. A two-sport stud, Wong also suited up for the Latin basketball team, in addition to commitments to the Boston Hurricances volleyball and club basketball. Wong will soon pack his bags and his 3.24 GPA for college where he plans to play volleyball for the newly renamed Syracuse Orange. | |
