ATTLEBORO— Just two years ago, Dighton-Rehoboth boys volleyball finished the season with an overall record of 4-13.
On Tuesday, the Falcons eclipsed that win total in just their sixth match of the season, sweeping first-year program Attleboro 3-0 (25-9, 25-9, and 25-9) on the road in non-league action to improve to 5-1. Senior outside hitter Ian Hoskins led the way for D-R with seven kills while junior setter Yasiel Rodriguez chipped in 11 assists.
"It’s been a fun start," Falcons coach Jon Pacheco said. "The schedule has worked in our favor so far and we’ve done what we needed to do."
After topping King Philip in a five-set thriller, D-R went on a 10-set winning streak with sweeps of Norwood, Norton and Millis to stay perfect in the Tri-Valley League. The streak ended with a 3-0 (23-25, 21-25 and 22-25) non-league loss to Durfee, but it was a match the Falcons kept close, and one which Pacheco is eagerly awaiting the rematch.
"We play them (again) coming out of the April break and we’re going to work on it so that we can correct that and hopefully win at their place in a couple weeks," Pacheco said.
Now halfway to an automatic postseason bid, here are the five factors that have led to D-R boys volleyball's strongest start in years.
1. Experience
At the Falcons' core is a trio of veteran players who have helped shape the direction of the program. Hoskins has again been an offensive juggernaut for D-R, totaling 79 kills through the first six matches. In the middle, senior blocker Connar Dexter has led defensive efforts with a combined 32 blocks, while also chipping in offensively with 33 kills. Then there's senior libero Sam Courcy with 68 digs, once again providing a needed spark for his squad.
Pacheco noted that the trio is gelling well with many of the newcomers, helping up each other's game with Rodriguez and senior Dylan Andreozzi in the middle especially.
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2. Offseason play
Pacheco said one of the biggest difference factors for was the experience his players gained from playing club volleyball in the offseason. While Hoskins has played for the South County Juniors in North Kingstown, R.I. for the past few years, he's been joined in the club circuit by newcomers Connor Bessette and Andrew Cabral, something he credits with helping the team hit the ground running this spring.
"When you’re playing offseason, you’re not starting from scratch on day one," Pacheco said. "They’re already kind of in their groove and they’re ready to go from day one and that’s been a big advantage."
Hoskins agreed, saying he feels the 5-1 record is a direct result of more of his teammates playing during the offseason.
3. The return of Yasiel Rodriguez
After taking a year away from the team to play baseball, Rodriguez is back on the court as the Falcons' main setter and has been a focal point of the team's efforts, totaling 125 assists through his first six matches.
"He has brought an athleticism that has really been helping the team," Pacheco said. "He’s able to get to the ball, he’s able to get it to hitters. We’re working on him spreading the ball out to all of the hitters as opposed to getting comfortable doing one thing, but he brings that energy with him that we need to be able to keep going."
Pacheco also praised Rodriguez's efforts in working with his hitters to find the best spots to place passes and meet them where they're comfortable hitting.
"That just makes life easier on everyone," Pacheco said.
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4. Keeping things close
While the Falcons' sole loss this season was a sweep by the Hilltoppers, all three of those sets came down to the wire (23-25, 21-25 and 22-25), leaving Pacheco confident in his team's ability to come back from Fall River with the win in the rematch. He also mentioned the turn around against the Warriors on opening night, considering D-R was swept by KP in both of their matches last year.
With tough league opponents such as Nipmuc, Bellingham and perennial powerhouse Medfield still on the docket, Pacheco knows his team has plenty of challenges ahead, but as long as they keep pace, he feels his in a good place.
5. Consistency is key
While noting the challenges ahead, Pacheco said he wants his team to keep their focus on the match at hand and to consistently strive to learn and improve.
"We’ve got some challenges ahead of us, but if we can keep consistently getting better, we’re going to be okay," Pacheco said. "We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do, we’ve got to beat the teams we’re supposed to beat so that we get into the tournament."
For Hoskins, it's minimizing errors and staying focused that will help unlock their full potential.
"We have a lot of skill, it’s just a matter of (avoiding) mistakes and being in the right mindset to play the game," Hoskins said. "If we put it all together, we’re a great team."
Taunton Daily Gazette sports reporter Cameron Merritt can be reached at cmerritt@tauntongazette.com. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @CamMerritt_News. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Taunton Daily Gazette today.
This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Why D-R boys volleyball is off to its best start in years
