Newton North uses best hitter as setter
With a run to the Division 1 final last year, Newton North maintained its long-established status as one of the top boys’ volleyball teams in the state.
As the Tigers looked to pick up in 2024 where they left off, there was just one problem — their starting setter graduated and there was no natural replacement.
Then Adam Christianson stepped up.
With 227 kills and 145 digs in 16 matches last year, the 6-foot-3inch senior established himself as one of the best hitters in the state, earning Globe All-Scholastic honors. He had never set in a high school match before.
But with Christianson taking rotations at setter (typically splitting with classmate Joaquin CuevasTorres), the Tigers have emerged as a serious contender in Division 1. After an 18-7 run last spring, Newton North was 6-1 heading into Friday’s action, and sits at No. 3 in the Globe’s boys’ volleyball poll.
“Everybody had to trust the system and buy into what we’re doing,” said North coach Nile Fox. “Adam setting was a big thing at first. Taking him off three rotations to set is a big thing, but we’ve been trusting it, practicing with setters. It forces us to step up, that’s the good thing about it.”
With a monster 21-assist, 16kill, 6-ace, and 4-block performance, Christianson was the catalyst as the Tigers snapped Needham’s historic winning streak at 77 on April 11. A signature victory so early in the season shows the ultimate goal is within reach.
“It says that our team has really a lot of potential,” junior Simon Vardeh said of the win. “[Christianson is] not a setter, he hasn’t set in a very long time. He picked this up really quickly. He’s come a long way but he has a lot more he can improve on. We have the potential to be a really, really good team.”
Christianson has had the desire to set. To do it well while filling a dire need on the team has been gratifying. He posted 52 assists and 40 kills in his first five matches.
“I know that I’m able to help out my teammates as much as I can — not just setting, but hitting,” he said. “Setting, I try to set them up well as you do; and hitting, trying to be that guy, be the guy.”
Taking a powerful hitter off his main position and maintaining the quality of the team requires teammates to step up. Vardeh and senior Sam Huang lead the effort on the receiving end of Christianson’s passes. Vardeh was tied with Christianson for the team lead in kills through five matches, and Huang added 26.
“It gives us a lot of confidence knowing that [Christianson is] one of our best players, probably our best player,” Huang said. “Knowing he can do all these things inspires us to also try and do new things.” In practice, Christianson focuses mainly on setting. Having the mind-set of a hitter, he can tell who is heating up at the net to feed the right teammate to go for the kill. Having the best hands on the team, Fox said, made Christianson a sensible choice for setter.
“I’m just really proud of him,” Fox said. “He works hard when he comes to practice every day. He really wants to learn it. He’s coming along really well.”
With each victory and further development of the team’s newlook rotations, getting back to that final seems more realistic.
“It was hard last year because, obviously, we lost,” Christianson said. “Coming in, we didn’t think that we would be able to [win a championship]. But as the season has gone on, we start to realize, ‘Wow, we can really do this.’ That only motivates us more.”
Set points
R Tuesday, Peter Suxho’s Redhawks delivered former No. 1 Newton North its first loss of the season. Thursday, Natick honored their boys’ and girls’ volleyball coach since 2005 with a plaque for his 500th victory.
“It’s not just me,” Suxho said. “The school gave me an opportunity. Parents, coaches, players, all together we can do it. We got all this working together . . . It’s all about working hard and smart. I did that, so I’m happy.”
R On the strength of the Cleary brothers (senior Mason and sophomore Ben), BC High rebounded from a loss to Methuen last Friday with a five-set win over Milford on Tuesday. Milford took the third and fourth sets, but BC High stormed back to win the fifth, 15-7.