The boys volleyball team has had a major shift from last season to this one by moving into another District with different teams and gaining a new head coach. The team has brought in Osvaldo Benitez, a teacher at Jose Mas Canosa Middle School.

However, with the incoming changes, it hasn’t had a major effect on the team. Fortunately, it’s "brought them closer together."

Starting off the year on March 5 with a victory in their first pre-season match against Alonso and Tracy Mourning, the team has gone on a streak to win five of their last six games.

The only loss the team took was in their first District match versus Sunset on March 6, losing three sets to zero, 17-25, 20-25, 12-25.

"Our biggest rival this year is Sunset and we have a lot to work on but the boys can fight through it," said assistant coach, Michael Vivanco.

Other than the Sunset match, the team has been able to stack wins across their District versus Braddock and Ferguson.

Against Braddock, the team bounced back after being dominated in the first set in which the score was 12-25.

They rallied back by winning the next three sets with the scores being 5-22, 25-18 and 25-13. Against Ferguson, the team swept all three sets. The results were 25-17, 25-17 and 25-9.

With these key wins added to their district record (2-1), they’ve placed at the top of their standings.

"The seniors, they want it. This is their year. If Varela’s ever going to make it in volleyball, it will be this year," said sophomore middle hitter, Christopher Ortiz.

Outside of their District games, the team has played in tournaments as well.

The March 27 game against Terra ended with another victory for Varela: 25-15, 25-6 and 25-18.

They played a doubleheader against Westwood Church on March 29 and won all three sets in both games. The first game ended with scores of 25-4, 25-9 and 25-9 and the second with 25-19, 25-4 and 25-5.

Last year, the team lost to Killian in the semi-finals but it looks like they have moved on from the issues that held them back last year.

"I expect to reach the goals we set in the beginning of the season, that we will get a district title and possibly move onto Regionals," said Vivanco.

With a record of 6-1, the team is on the road to Regionals.