Since 2023, when boys volleyball became an OHSAA varsity sport, the Berkshire Badgers have struggled to defeat their rival, the Chardon Hilltoppers.
Since 2023, when boys volleyball became an OHSAA varsity sport, the Berkshire Badgers have struggled to defeat their rival, the Chardon Hilltoppers.
After winning their first varsity competition against the Hilltoppers on March 16 of 2023, the Badgers then lost five straight rivalry matches.
However, the 2025 senior led Badgers have written a different story.
Earlier this season on April 1, the Badgers defeated the Hilltoppers at Chardon High School, 3-1.
Most recently, on April 17 on their home court, the Badgers again beat the Hilltoppers 3-1.
With the latest victory over their rival, the Badgers remained unbeaten in conference play at 5-0, and advanced to 9-4 overall.
After defeating the Hilltoppers for the second time this season, Badgers Head Coach Tim Percic was pleased with how his team handled the pressure and intensity of the rivalry.
In particular, Coach Percic highlighted a key moment in game two that displayed his team’s aptitude to overcome adversity, and stay present.
In the second game, the Hilltoppers went on a 9-0 run to take a 24-14 lead over the Badgers. At that point, it appeared that the Hilltoppers had an insurmountable game 2 lead.
However, the Badgers kept fighting.
Demonstrating a next play mentality, the Badgers scored 5 straight points after trailing 24-14.
Even though the Badgers lost the second game, 25-19, scoring those points at the end showed their ability to stay in the moment and play one point at a time.
“In the second match, when we lost, we put five points on the board when they essentially had match point,” Coach Percic said. “And that to me is a good sign that (our mentality was) ‘we’re not out of it yet, we may be down, but we’re not out of it yet’.”
This important ability to stay in the moment and play one point at a time is a skill the Badgers have been practicing all season.
For instance, in preparing the Badgers for the emotional challenges of competitive volleyball, Coach Percic provides his team with intense practices.
“We have been practicing all season for matches like this, where if we get into a little funk like we did in the second set, that we pull ourselves out of it, and that we work hard to do that,” said Coach Percic.
In addition, in order to help his players overcome adversity, Coach Percic uses phrases and mantras to remind his players to move on to the next play.
“I use a lot of these phrases to kind of get the guys snickering a little bit so that they’re not too hard on themselves,” Coach Percic said.
A few of the phrases that Coach Percic uses to help his players stay positive and in the moment include, “The next play is the only one you can effect,” “The only easy day was yesterday,” “It’s like water off the duck’s back,” and “Just keep going,”.
As the Badgers stayed in the moment against the Hilltoppers, their offensive attack was superb.
To create a formidable attack, Coach Percic had the Badgers run quick middle attacks which kept the Hilltoppers defensive blockers guessing on where the ball was going to come from.
Utilizing this strong offensive game plan, the Badgers amassed 43 kills for the match.
Leading the offensive attack for the Badgers was senior Jake Starr (15 kills).
Starr said that Badgers setter Ryan Kessinger, who had 36 assists, helped put him and his teammates in position to have a great game at the net.
In addition, he said the timing on his swing was working well.
“I like to pride myself on the fact that I know when to swing and when to not swing,” said Starr. “I try to rip it when I’ve got a chance, and see an opening.”
In addition to Starr, also leading the Badgers in kills were Tony Masters (8 kills), Maddox Fuentes (7), Levi Rohl (6), Mario Romagni (5), Roman Percic (1) and Ryan Kessinger (1).
With the excellent season so far, Coach Percic does not want his team to become complacent.
Thus, he consistently repeats a well known United States Navy Seals mantra to his team throughout the season, ‘The only easy day was yesterday’.
This phrase reminds his athletes of the importance of continuing to focus on working hard and improving each day and to not give up when faced with adversity.
Along with the Badgers having an excellent match, strong performances were displayed by the Hilltoppers’ Ian Galati and Avery Laux, particularly in game two.
Galati, who had a great match attacking the net, said that he was seeing the court very well.
His excellent court vision enabled him to make quick decisions on when to hit a powerful spike or just tip the ball over the blockers.
In addition, Laux demonstrated excellent serves and stellar blocking at the net.
Although the Hilltoppers have had a slow start to the season, Galati is happy with how his team has been improving.
“I’m proud of all my teammates, I felt that we improved a lot,” Galati said. “I felt that the game itself was a little frustrating, but we definitely improved throughout the season.”
