Bellingham Boys’ Volleyball Takes Another Step Forward

By Christopher Tremblay, Staff Sports Writer

Entering its fourth year the Bellingham boys’ volleyball team was looking to keep moving the program in the right direction. In what was to be their actual third year on the court, they lost the 2020 season due to Covid, the Blackhawks wanted to improve upon last year’s abbreviated season. 

During its inaugural season of the program, Bellingham went winless, and last year during a shortened season, the boys were able to manage to secure two wins. This year, Coach Steve Mantegani’s team took a big step forward and put together a 10-9 season, earning themselves a spot in the Division 2 State Tournament as the number 18 seed.

“We had brought back a lor of last year’s team, and they worked really hard to improve this season. They were very excited to put together a winning season and make it to the tournament,” the Blackhawk Coach said. “It was about midway through the season when they realized that they had a good chance of making the tournament if they continued to work hard and play the way they were the rest of the way.”

Having only two seniors take to the court this spring, Mantegani knows that this year is another stepping stone in the future of this program. Bellingham’s only seniors consist of outside and middle hitter Mateus Lemos and first year volleyball player Will Ferguson. As a wrestler for Bellingham Ferguson was looking for something to do this spring before graduating and decided on volleyball at the coaches urging.

“I think that Will made a very good choice in picking volleyball. He picked up the game quickly and has been in and out of the lineup as a middle hitter’ who is a strong blocker with a great attitude,” Mantegani said. “As for Mateus, our other senior, we will not see him in the tournament as he will be in Paris Island at Marine training camp. We will miss his flexibility and contributions.”

Leading the way into the tournament for Bellingham was their tri-captains Grant Wojik, Zach Mantegani and Dan Rose. Wojik, the team’s junior setter has been with the squad since eighth grade and has developed each year where the Bellingham offense now runs through him. In addition to high school volleyball, he also plays club for the Newton Smash.

Rose, a junior, plays middle hitter and according to his coach he is one of the most dynamic hitters on the team. He also jumps well, hits hard and is a great blocker setting the tone in the front row. Rose led the team in blocks and was second in kills. Mantegani is a sophomore opposite side hitter who can do a bit of everything for the team. He has carried the team in some tough matches this season and was the leader in kills for the Blackhawks. 

In addition to the tri-captains providing a spark on the court, junior libero Anthony Campbell has been doing a lot of digging the ball out in the back row for Bellingham this spring and although a great player the junior is often very tough on his performance. Two outside hitters, junior Kalen Sahin, and freshman Jack Davidson, have both provided the team with a strong attack complimenting the team’s strength down the middle.

Bellingham also had two athletes looking to help the team in juniors Christian Saccol and Matt Ulsh. Saccol had a tough time this season with an ankle injury but when he was able to play, he did a great job for Bellingham controlling the middle of the court with Rose. Ulsh, a back row player this year, has been battling a shoulder injury throughout the year. His strength is usually in the front and Mantegani is hoping he’ll be back to that position next year fully healthy.

One athlete that has impressed the Coach has been eighth grader Thomas Crandall, who seemed to pick the game up very quickly.

“I usually don’t like to put eight graders in the line of fire on a varsity team, but he has proven himself, and it will be exciting to have him back for four more years,” the Blackhawk Coach said. “He passes well and is physical with his game; he is not your typical eighth grader. Once the game begins and he gets going, you don’t even notice that he is an eighth grader.”

Bellingham was very excited for things to get underway with their first tourney.

“We have had a couple of very tough practices and are excited to compete on this level,” Mantegani said. “We’ve had some tough games through the year and think that we have learned from those games and by winning the games that we should have won.”

Unfortunately, Bellingham’s first visit to the State Tournament was not what they were looking for as number 15 Holyoke took them out in 3 sets during the round of 32. You can read about that in more detail in Ken Hamwey’s Tourney Roundup.