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Cade Jones (right, No. 11) and Hunter Larson go up together for the block.
Cade Jones (11) attempts to spike down a point. Photos by Gavin Grant/Woodstock Academy.
Aiden Finch goes up for the kill against HMTCA.
On Friday, the Woodstock Academy boys’ volleyball team picked up its seventh win of the season.
“I’m very happy, said senior Hunter Larson. “We knew coming in that we wanted to make the state tournament. That was our goal and now, we’re just one win away. It’s a relief having this many wins this early in the season.”
Woodstock posted three consecutive 3-0 victories over the likes of Hartford Magnet Trinity Catholic Academy, Innovation High School and the Aerospace Academy/International High School co-op to raise their record to 7-3.
“It is what it is, the league is not a super-strong league but I think that’s OK because if we were in a tougher league, we would be struggling,” said coach Adam Bottone. “It’s nice when we mix in some of those tougher games, like Farmington, Newington, Norwich Free Academy and Rockville, so getting the wins is definitely helping the guys with their confidence. It helps when the games are not so intense when we’re still, at times, struggling with knowing where we’re supposed to be. It’s been a little chaotic with break, people being away and people being out of position, so it’s been a great week to have games that were not as tough.”
The Centaurs completed a perfect spring break week with an easy 25-10, 25-6, 25-10 shutout victory over Aerospace Academy-International HS on Friday in Bloomfield.
Larson had seven kills and Owen Budd added four kills and five aces in the victory for the Centaurs.
Larson has been one of those who has been learning through the experience of playing and having a grand old time doing so.
“I’m having a lot of fun. This is a lot less stress than other sports. Everyone has a lot of fun playing and are having a good experience right now,” Larson said. “I played on the club team last year and from then to now is a big difference. I feel more natural on the court.”
Earlier in the week, the Centaurs played their third match in four days, including the Farmington battle, and some of that fatigue may have shown early when they had to survive a little overtime in the first set for a 26-24 win over Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy.
But Woodstock put it together in the second and third sets, winning 25-13 and 25-12 to sweep their opponents at the Alumni Fieldhouse.
Aiden Finch had eight kills while Jake Henderson tossed in 15 assists. Brayden Bottone was again effective behind the service line with 13 points including seven aces.
“My son has been doing very well behind the service line and I didn’t expect that from him. He didn’t serve a lot during our club season,” Adam Bottone said.
Nate Billings had six digs.
“Nate has stepped into kind of a utility role where he will play Libero, will play outside (hitter) or he will play defensive specialist. He’s willing do it, may not be always happy to do it, but is willing to do it and he always pulls through for us,” Adam Bottone said with a laugh. “Christian Hart has been doing a great job when he plays Libero. Guys like Hunter Larson and Cade Jones, who haven’t played much in the past, they’re getting it, it’s starting to click for them, and are having a lot more success with their understanding of the game and, specifically, their play at the net.”
Things continued to go right on Wednesday.
Eight was the lucky number for the Centaurs as Finch, Jones and Larson all finished with eight kills in the win over Innovation High School at the Alumni Fieldhouse.
Henderson delivered most of them as he had 26 assists for Woodstock Academy which swept the sets, 25-20, 25-22, 25-15.
It meant the Newington game on Monday (it ended too late for this edition) loomed large for the team.
A win would give the Centaurs a postseason berth.
“That was our first goal when we met on the very first day, I said ‘Let’s see if we can qualify for States and go from there,’” Bottone said. “I’m really excited about that, very pleased with the progress we have made, the boys are excited. I feel like we’re in a good place and can definitely get there.”
The Centaurs have only suffered one loss in the Connecticut Volleyball League.
That came against Wolcott Tech.
On Wednesday, they meet another team with one loss, NFA, in Norwich.
“Their only loss is to Wolcott Tech as well. That’s a huge game for seeding purposes because we only play each other once that counts for the league. As important as it is to get a win on Monday to qualify for States, that match (at NFA) is potentially even bigger,” Bottone said.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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