Boys’ Volleyball is right around the corner with tryouts starting this Friday, March 4th. Not only has it gained popularity in our school since it’s early beginnings, but across the nation as well. Nationwide, volleyball is ranked as 6th most popular for high school sports. In 2016, the Colonia Patriots finished their season with a shaky 7-16 record. Having to face off challenging teams like Summit and Hunterdon Central. Just as every team in a county loses their seniors, new players tryout hoping to replace them.

Now, the Patriots are ready to come back stronger than ever this 2017 season. Many underclassmen have been showing prospective varsity hope, Coach Biri comments he’s looking forward to coaching these well-rounded youngsters. Most of them have played on their middle school team or some even playing for outside clubs like Warren Six Pack. In fact, some prospective players are even dual-athletes like Luke Valeriano, who’s played on the varsity basketball team. This characteristic is common among boys volleyball players in Colonia. In previous seasons, much of Colonias’ varsity consisted of soccer players. Regardless, the mix of different skills are something unique the coaches can count on.

Coach Biri has been the head coach for boys’ varsity volleyball the past four years. With Coach Blash by his side, there are big hopes for both JV and varsity this season. He mentioned North Brunswick is their biggest competition for the upcoming season. Last season the Patriots went 0-2 against the Raiders, they finished with a 25-13 first set and a close 25-22 second set. When asked what the rest of Colonia High School can expect from the volleyball program, he says a team that plays hard, plays together, and puts in the work. Just like each season, his goal is to win the division and move past beyond the second round of counties.

With so many talented athletes trying out for this season, the rest of the school hopefully awaits that it will be put to good use, and what better set of coaches to do that then Coach Biri and Coach Blash? An experienced player Kyle Kirejevas, comments that both Coach Biri and Coach Blash have very different coaching styles. He said that Biri is better at advancing the experienced players’ game and Coach Blash focuses on the fundamentals that every volleyball player needs.