BY SAPNA PATHAK
When the boys of Salem volleyball took the courts for their first match of this year’s Division I playoffs, head coach EJ Perry had a plan: show off his present stars and then display those he expects to emerge in the future.
Perry’s plan worked, as the Blue Devils sailed through the first round with a 3-0 showing over Coe-Brown on Thursday, Oct. 18. Salem outscored the opposition, 75-30, in three games, taking game one, 25-6, winning game two, 25-11, and putting up a 25-13 victory in game three.
Senior Dan Kinney bolstered his case for New Hampshire Player of the Year, making 14 kills and six blocks while playing one-and-a-half games. Senior setter Tim Briggs helped the Blue Devils to an early lead, beginning game one with three perfect sets en route to a 17-assist, three-block night.
“When Tim Briggs is on, we are very difficult to contend with,” said Perry. “As much as we rely on Dan Kinney to play well, and we do count on it every night, it is Briggs who is like a coach on the floor, who determines how we will play.”
Mark Graziani and Josh Klecan controlled the back row, with Klecan recording 12 digs and 11 service-points and Graziani notching nine digs and nine service-points. Ryan Woelfel finished with eight kills, while Billy Webster, Andrew Dickie and Billy Kingdon each added five kills. Senior Eric Wilson rounded out the scoring with five digs and six service-points.
Game three saw Salem’s underclassmen take over, giving fans a peek at the program’s future.
Sophmore hitters Jared Scali, Jason Kinney and Dan Tiner anchored the front row. Jason Kinney led the youth with nine kills and five blocks while Scali had a season-high seven kills. Tiner added four kills and two blocks; juniors Sean Stewart and CJ DeMarco provided accurate passing for the Blue Devils; and Chris Barnes recorded 12 assists in relief of Briggs.
“I was very impressed with the younger unit,” said Perry. “They really didn’t lose a step and held Coe-Brown to 13 points. I continued to tell people that Salem volleyball has reached a point ofnever rebuilding, but rather continually reloading. These players proved my point.”
After bypassing the Bears, Salem downed the Sabers, of Souhegan, in the D-I semifinals on Tuesday, Oct. 23. The Blue Devils cruised to another 3-0 playoff win, and will compete for their fourthstraight D-I title. Salem and Keene face off at Pinkerton Academy, at 6 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 26, marking the third consecutive season the two squads have met for the championship.
Dan Kinney led the Blue Devils with 21 kills, five blocks and three digs; Woelfel notched 11 blocks, three shy of the school record; Tiner had five blocks and five kills; Webster had seven kills and four blocks in his first appearance at outside hitter; and Briggs had a solid night with 34 assists, five blocks, four digs and 14 service-points.
The Graziani-Klecan duo put up a combined 23 digs, controlling the back row; Stewart had four digs; DeMarco added three digs.