Entering the season with a national record 74-match winning streak and four consecutive state titles, most would find it difficult to raise the expectations any higher entering the 2008 season.

Not EJ Perry.

The Salem High School coach, who has also led the Blue Devils basketball team to two straight crowns, said this year’s squad is hands down his best unit to date.

“We have a huge X on our backs as everybody is trying to beat the four-time defending champions, but in Salem we relish that role and use it for motivation,” said Perry. “This is the most talented Salem team in the 10-year history of volleyball (six club seasons and four varsity). It should be exciting to see this team mature.”

The Blue Devils send out a lethal crop of hitters, led by 6-foot- 4 junior Jason Kinney. Kinney has the opportunity to become a more accomplished player than his older brother Dan, the 2007 Division I Player of the Year (POY), said Perry.

That’s high praise considering the elder Kinney was recognized in Sports Illustrated after making the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American team by averaging 22 kills and eight blocks per match.

Similarly, Dan Tiner, the cousin of 2004 and 2005 POY Andrew Tiner, also started last year and averaged better than eight kills a match. Perry said Tiner came in this season with improved passing skills.

Both players, he said, are top contenders for 2008 POY honors. That’s largely because each has played volleyball since sixth grade; most athletes aren’t introduced to the sport until high school.

Hitting in the middle this season are Chukwuekmeka Okeke and Jared Scali. Both players were reserves last season, but picked up the team’s winning mentality and are ready to start after improving in the off-season.

Junior Chris Barnes starts at setter, and Joe Gallant battled and beat out fellow sophomore Corey Forrest for the other starting outside hitter spot. Perry said Gallant’s 6-foot-3 frame gave him a slight advantage, though the 6- foot-1 Forrest is likely to see plenty of action as a top reserve. Senior Sean Stewart, a starter on the last two championship teams, anchors the defense and captains the team along with junior CJ DeMarco, who Perry said may be the best passer in the state. DeMarco moves from starting defensive specialist to libero.

Playing major roles off the bench are senior Michael Sapochetti and junior Justin O’Brien, who enters his first varsity season. Others contributing for SHS this season include outside hitter Jesse Forrest and juniors Kevin Delfosse, Matthew Les, Kyle Ruffen and Patrick Sheehy.

After losing Dan Kinney, who graduated with a 121-3 record between volleyball and basketball, Perry said the ball will be spread around more, and the team has adopted the motto, “We before me.”

“This year’s team will only start one senior … but is probably my most experienced team,” said Perry, who added that as fun as it is to dominate each season, he hopes volleyball continues to grow within the Granite State.

“The sport should be getting more popular with the U.S. winning the gold in Beijing,” said Perry. “The games, both beach volleyball and indoor volleyball, at the Olympics were incredible. I know I watched it and my players watched it, and hopefully there were others out there who appreciated it as much as we did and the sport can start coming of age in New Hampshire.”