The Piedmont High School boys volleyball team is off to a slow start to the 2025 season, losing 11 of its first 12 matches. First-year coach Ryan Nicanor said some of that was to be expected with so few returning seniors (three) on the roster.
“I kind of look at this as a transitional period for the program,” Nicanor said. “A new generation of players. It’s going to be a lot of building for the future this season. The boys are doing good. They’re working hard.”
Outside hitters Mello Dowdell and Logan Watral and Libero/defensive specialist Nikko Spears are the seniors. “Even the returners are stepping into new roles,” Nicanor said. “There’s room for growth and there are parts of the game they still need to learn.”
Sophomore setter Lucas Kim is the only underclassman named captain, joining Watral and Spears. Opposite side hitter Luck Peterson is a junior.
“Super-bright and positive guy on the team,” Nicanor said. “Very hard worker. He’s one of those guys you need to have. He’s good at what he does and brings the positive mindset.”
Junior middle blocker Drew Kobal is extremely talented. “I’m very excited to have him for this year and next year,” Nicanor said. Another junior middle blocker is Diego Kunke is in his first year playing volleyball and will be part of the rotation.
A couple of freshmen defensive specialists will also see time: Avi Boguslavsky and Aiden Chen. The latter filled in at Libero when Spears missed a match against Oakland Tech.
Nicanor takes over for Mariah Cardenas, who previously coached both the boys and girls teams. Nicanor was the freshman girls coach under Cardenas in the fall.
“My philosophy has evolved over the course of my coaching career,” he said. “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. Always maintaining a growth mindset and maintaining short-term memory. “Understanding that you have to move on to the next point fast.”
The Highlanders lone win came at a tournament over Vallejo on March 8. They were swept 3-0 in the four matches since then.
Nicanor is trying to measure success in different ways as he tries to build the program up. “One, are we looking like a team of 14 guys,” he said. “Are we helping each other out, talking to each other. The other thing is mindset. I measure success, especially for this year, in terms of what kind of mindset my boys are building. If they’re letting mistakes get to their heads, are they shaking them off, that’s the kind of progress I’m looking for. On top of, in terms of being competitive with teams, keeping themselves competitive in a match for as long as possible.”