HYANNIS – In spite of a solid defensive effort and gutsy comebacks in the first and third games, Barnstable High lost its season-opener to the visiting New Bedford Whalers, 3-0, last night at home.
The season-opening loss was the first time the Red Raiders dropped a season-opening match in boys’ volleyball since 2007.
Barnstable High senior captain Donnie Mach puts the hammer in a New Bedford return in the third game but the Red Raiders were swept in the match, 3-0.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports
The Red Raiders looked like they were going to be swept quickly in the third game, but led by senior captain Donnie Mach and Scott Sawyer, the hosts bounced back to tie it up only to watch their chances fall.
New Bedford (1-0) took three straight from the Red & White, 25-22, 25-11 and 29-27.
Barnstable (0-1) also staged a comeback in the first game, battling back from being nine points down before losing 25-22.
Mach turned in seven kills while Sawyer, also a team captain, added three kills. Sophomore Matt Teague played solidly at the setter position.
Mary Lou Martin, for over a decade Tom Turco’s assistant coach, took the head coaching reins this season. Turco has 699 career volleyball victories and will return to the parquet in the fall (his victories are girls’ and boys’ volleyball combined).
— Sean Walsh is the sports editor for www.capecod.com. His email is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @coachwalshccbm
About CapeCod.com NewsCenter
