Danvers Girls Volleyball Players Begin 'Fall 2' With New Outlook

DANVERS, MA — When the Danvers High girls volleyball team last walked off the court following an official match it was with an emotional mix of heartache, bittersweet pride and the instant desire to bring almost the whole gang back for another run at a state championship after a five-set loss to Canton in the Division 3 state title clash at Worcester State University.

The Falcons entered that match with a 25-0 record, a Northeastern Conference title, and a grueling, four-set victory against Lynnfield for the first sectional title in program history among their accomplishments.

The date was Nov. 19, 2019.

More than 15 months later — through the onset of the coronavirus health crisis and the postponement of their fall season while other girls volleyball programs were allowed to play across the state — the Falcons were allowed to take the court Monday for their first official in-season workout since the state title loss.

"It's been tough," Danvers coach George LeVasseur told Patch. "We were fairly young last year. We only lost two seniors from that team. Realistically, we would have been in good shape to be strong and go on another deep run."

Although girls volleyball was one of the sports the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association did allow this fall with modified rules related to coronavirus protocols, the NEC opted to delay what would have been the only sport to take place indoors, as rival leagues took the court and played an abbreviated season.

The NEC girls volleyball season was moved to the official "Fall 2" window, which includes football, competitive cheer, indoor track and other sports that were not allowed in the fall due to district concerns or high coronavirus rates in certain communities. The Fall 2 season began Monday and runs through April 24 with games set to begin within the next two to three weeks.

"(Danvers athletic director) Andy (St. Pierre) definitely pushed for us in the fall," LeVasseur said. "Even though we didn't get to compete, we still got to practice."

Those practices took place to help keep the girls sharp with an eye toward this week when they could actually work out officially in hopes of extending their five-year undefeated run in the NEC.

Only this year, the Falcons won't be trying to avenge their state final defeat because there is no statewide tournament. There is also no official NEC champion and no league all-stars.

So LeVassuer said the goal will be to push the players to be the best they can be — and the best they can be together — while acknowledging the dramatically different landscape they are playing in compared to the 25-1 campaign that ended in a whole different world well over a year ago.

"As somebody as competitive as I am," LeVasseur said, "and as someone who pushes the girls to strive for the success they have earned, this season is definitely going to have a different outlook."

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One benefit to the delay is the recently eased rule modifications that LeVasseur said make it "more like normal gameplay" than the fall. Players have more freedom to move around the court and are now are able to attack at the net without the 3-foot buffer designed to allow for social distancing from the opponent.

"Those modifications in an attempt to keep the game safe could have really had an effect on the (integrity) of the game," LeVasseur said.

He added that the schools that did play in the fall — as well as his own club volleyball program, the 127-player, Woburn-based Mass Impact Volleyball Program — are good indicators the game can be played safely indoors with reasonable precautions.

"The kids have been great and families have been even better with communication and doing what’s right," he said. "That means keeping kids out when they have traveled or have been in close contact (with someone coronavirus positive).

"It doesn't mean people are stopping what they're doing. But it means they are taking a break when they need to take a break."

Danvers graduated talented starters Jianna Durand and Maddie Montanari from last year's sectional champion but brings back a boatload of talent — including Division II Assumption-bound hitter Carly Goodhue, WPI-bound setter Lily Eldridge and standouts Megan Murphy and Shayla Saad.

With Masconomet a new entry into the NEC, LeVasseur said there will be plenty to play for even if that does not include a league, sectional or state title.

Well over a year after their last match, he allowed just playing together at all is something worth appreciating in a way that may have been taken for granted in the past.

"It shows you how full circle athletics really is," he said. "It really isn't just about the wins and losses. You've seen through this what playing does for the kids and their mental state."

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)