Slow start doesn’t stop Silverado boys volleyball team

Silverado’s boys volleyball team doesn’t start slow often.

But at least the Skyhawks know they can win if they do.

Silverado overcame a 16-9 first-game deficit Friday to pick up a 25-23, 25-9, 25-14 road win over Del Sol in a Southeast League match.

“It was nice to come back, but we probably shouldn’t have put ourselves in that hole in the first place,” Silverado coach Eric Drum said. “We were a slow starter, and that really hasn’t been our M.O. this year.

“We’ve had good starts to games, but we came out today a little bit slow. I’m not sure why, but we battled through it. We definitely found our team.”

The Dragons (10-4, 6-4) jumped to a 16-9 lead in the first game, eventually leading 22-17, before Silverado (12-2, 9-1) went on an 8-1 run that included the game’s final six points.

Casey Hadland led the Skyhawks with 30 assists and five digs, distributing the ball to a balanced attack and taking control after Silverado’s slow start.

“You can say all you want, but you’ve got to lead with example,” the senior setter said. “You can’t just say 'let’s go, let’s go,’ but you’ve got to show them.

“That’s a coach’s job — to try and tell them to do stuff.”

Hadland assisted on five plays of a 12-2 Skyhawks run in the second game, which also included two aces from Jordan Royal. Hadland then added the winning kill, improvising a pass from Steven Jex to lay down the 25th point.

Jex finished with six kills and four blocks. Tiree Burton had seven kills for Silverado, and Brian Theophill added six.

“All it takes is one person to step it up, and the team follows. I try and do my part,” said Hadland, who Drum called the “heart and soul of the team.”

Zack Deittrick paced Del Sol with 13 digs. Nick Maglaras had 15 assists for the Dragons, and teammate Kevin Fitzpatrick added five kills and three blocks.