DANVERS — When people think of St. John’s Prep, it’s not usually because of its boys volleyball program.
But while sports such as football, ice hockey, and baseball get the share of the spotlight, the Eagles’ boys volleyball team has quietly been one of the state’s most consistent in recent years.
This year’s was no different, as the Eagles enjoyed a 14-6 record during the regular season and claimed the Catholic Conference crown, setting them up for what they hoped would be a deep run in the MIAA Division I state tournament.
Instead, their playoff push ended just as quickly as it began, as the No. 16 Eagles lost an exhaustive five-set affair on their home floor on Thursday, falling 3-2 in the Round of 32 to No. 17 Newton South.
“This one hurts,” said St. John’s Prep coach Kara Brown. “I think we have such a phenomenal group, and they’ve worked really hard, so it’s sad for it to be over for them.”
The Eagles had the match firmly in their grasp as it took, what felt like, a commanding 5-0 lead early into the fifth and decisive set. Once the advantage grew to 8-2, a hard-fought victory appeared to be within reach as Newton South called a timeout.
But the brief pause in the action was just enough to halt the Eagles’ momentum. Slowly but surely, Newton South clawed its way back into the set.
Suddenly, the Lions had the lead, and the Eagles’ season was over soon after.
“We started playing like we didn’t want to lose and not like we wanted to win,” senior captain Michael Wagner. “We tried to spread the ball around. It’s just unfortunate. Everyone left it out on the court. I’m proud of all the guys. We tried our best, but fell short.”
Wagner is one of nine members of the St. John’s Prep roster that is set to graduate in a few weeks. In what turned out to be his final match as a member of the Eagles, he led the team with 15 kills, while Grant Magnuson registered 14 digs and Ethan Sheehan had 12 assists.
Nevertheless, their volleyball careers are now over, and so too will be their time at St. John’s Prep once they walk across the graduation stage a few weeks from now.
But when these Eagles inevitably reminisce about their time together, they’ll know it was never the results that defined their legacy.
“We definitely created a supportive place where everyone can walk in and be themselves,” said Wagner. “You can be exactly who you are, and we’ll accept you and love you for it. Everyone just brings their own vibe and their own energy. We all work together, and it makes something really good.”
