Valley View took a leap of faith and started a boys volleyball program in 2024, immediately jumping into the Lackawanna League.
Two years later, the Cougars are challenging for a championship.
The team is getting set for its most important game in its brief history. Valley View (10-1 overall, 6-0 in league) travels to traditional power Blue Ridge (7-3, 5-1) on Monday at 6 p.m.
“It’s surreal,” Valley View returning All-Region player Luke Stevens said. “I am thankful for all the guys and my friends who came out and played the sport from the beginning and have seen this thing through.
“It’s been really cool. It is a great opportunity, and I have a lot of friends out there pushing me. I like pushing the guys to enjoy the sport.”
Valley View has made steady progress in its development. Stevens gained early experience by playing travel volleyball with Endless Momentum and now Electric City.
“I fell in love with it just by deciding to play,” Stevens said. “A friend and I played it at the park one day. I enjoyed it and got involved in it about six years ago. I started at Endless Momentum, then COVID hit. I am with Electric City now. It’s great.”
He was a Lackawanna League Coaches’ All-Star as a junior. The 6-foot-2 outside hitter with a powerful swing led the Cougars to a 10-win season and the District 2 Class 2A playoffs in 2025. Stevens had 145 kills, 46 blocks, and 44 aces.
This year, Stevens has been outstanding at the net. He has a team-high 111 kills, a hit percentage of .341, and a kill percentage of 50.5. Last week, he recorded a season-high 18 kills in a win over West Scranton.
In addition to his efforts on the front line, Stevens has 73 service points, 30 aces, and 31 digs.
“It’s a lot of mental sport,” Stevens said. “If you aren’t mentally strong, it can kill the entire game. Being athletic helps, too, but it is more about being mentally strong. Our biggest improvement as a team has been moving as one unit. We are a complete unit.”
Valley View has depth.
Jagger Roe, one of the key players for the Cougars’ boys basketball team, brings a tenacious approach to volleyball. He has 75 kills, 79 service points, 19 aces and 16 digs.
Drew Stevens, Luke’s brother, is a sophomore who has provided a spark to Valley View’s attack. He has 60 kills and 29 digs.
Michael Shemonski has 37 kills, and Jason Munley has contributed 21 kills and a team-high 19 blocks. Antonio Farina runs the offense with 262 assists.
Rocco Farina leads the defense with 51 digs.
“Our approach has to be to go out and play hard,” Stevens said. “We have a good coach backing us up. We have to play hard and play smart.”
Blue Ridge jumped out to a strong start to the season, highlighted by a dramatic five-set win over defending league champion Abington Heights.
The Raiders have lost two of their last three matches. They fell to Pocono Mountain West, a Class 3A program from District 11, and undefeated Crestwood, the District 2 Class 2A power ratings leader.
Jacob Brown, a sophomore, leads Blue Ridge with 124 kills. Jacek Motyka has 89 kills, and Parker Glasgow has 69 kills and 73 service points with 18 aces.
Landon Bishop is second on the team with 69 service points, and Riley Phillips has 63 service points and 285 assists.
Bryce Conklin leads the defense with 96 digs.
In addition to being a crucial game in the league, it will also impact the District 2 power rating standings.
Crestwood (9-0, .818) and Holy Redeemer (9-0, .732) are first and second. The two Wyoming Valley Conference powers meet May 5.
Valley View (10-1, .696) is third, North Pocono is fourth (7-4, .596), and Blue Ridge is fifth (7-3, .586).
The top eight teams and any additional teams with a .500 record qualify for the District 2 Class 2A tournament. If needed, play-in games are scheduled for May 12. The quarterfinals are May 14 and will be played at the higher-seeded team’s site, so the top four seeds will host.
Semifinal matches, played as a doubleheader at the highest remaining seed, are May 19, with the final May 21.
Abington Heights (8-1, 7-1) hosts Western Wayne (6-3, 5-1) in another important Lackawanna League game Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Nolan Moore leads the Comets with 86 kills. Dan Beck has 80 kills, and Billy Johnson has 75 kills and 21 blocks.
Chris Cummins leads the defense with 98 digs, and Ryan Horutz runs the offense with 236 assists for Abington Heights, which is second in the District 2 Class 3A power rating standings.
Western Wayne climbed into the Lackawanna League race with a five-match winning streak. Logan Pauler leads the Wildcats with 59 kills and 88 digs; Eli Bilski has 40 kills and 101 digs; Gavin Morcom has 37 kills and 118 assists; and Braden Laity has 36 kills and 80 digs.
The District 2 Class 3A playoffs start with quarterfinal matches at the site of the higher-seeded team May 13. All seven teams qualify for the postseason.
Semifinal matches, a doubleheader at the highest remaining seeded team, are May 19, and the final is May 21.