LYNN — The Classical volleyball team has an impressive streak going, but coach Frank DeLuca thinks it’ll be a struggle if the Rams are to continue it.
The Rams have made the MIAA state tournament for the past five seasons.
“I think, hopefully, we’re looking to make the tournament,” DeLuca said last week. “We have to win 10 games, and it’s going to be a struggle. There are teams in the (Northeastern) conference that are better than us. Some of the cities and towns in our league are able to send kids to summer camps and clinics, and our girls don’t have those opportunities.
“The rest of the other schools could be very competitive,” he said.
The Northeastern Conference has been expanded to 16 teams, taking on Medford, Malden, Everett and Somerville from the Greater Boston League. While the NEC has been split into two divisions in most sports, and three in football, it’ll be one league in volleyball, with 15 teams competing (Gloucester does not have a volleyball team).
DeLuca and the Rams are ready.
He had 55 prospective players come out for the team, and he generally keeps about 14 for varsity action. He’s been able to field freshman and JV teams in the past, and hopes he sees more freshmen this week.
The Rams will also have to soldier on without their No. 1 impact player from last year: Soneta Srey, who graduated.
“She is going to be very difficult to replace,” DeLuca said. “Last year, she was out half the year with injury, and the other girls were able to get around that.
“Still, she’s a fantastic athlete. She could do it all. She was one of our best diggers and outside hitters.”
For the Rams to succeed this season, the underclassmen will have to step up. DeLuca
has three juniors he’s hoping to use up front, and hopes they can produce most of the offense: Maggie McHale, in her third year; Skyler Crayton, whose older brother Devin, was a standout football player for the Rams; and Shanelle Barry.
“Skyler has the athletic ability,” said DeLuca, “and we hope she can take the next step. She’s the one who would replace Soneta. That’ll be a godsend if she can.”
Barry, DeLuca said, came up in the middle of the season from the junior varsity “and did really well. We hope she can continue.”
DeLuca is also counting on sophomore Pamela Diaz, who played last year as a freshman.
“She should be our best server and our best digger,” he said.
Two seniors-to-be have emerged for the Rams: Alytah Noum, a digger and a server; and Emily Silva, who DeLuca hopes will be effective as a server. Both are three-year players for the Rams.
Other returnees DeLuca is counting on are senior Marymil Gonzalez and junior Jenna Tobin, another server.
He says the Rams should do well if the players mesh together.
“You have to adapt to the players you have,” he said. “Volleyball’s a tough sport. You can’t do it by yourself. If you’re an outside hitter, you need someone to set really well. It’s like being a wide receiver. If no one can get you the ball, there’s nothing you can do. You need that chemistry.”
The Rams open their season Sept. 6 at NEC newcomer Medford, which is DeLuca’s home town. The team will conclude its regular season schedule at the end of October with the Lynn City Tournament.
