'I love being back': Weymouth's McEachern returns to boys volleyball program he knows well
WEYMOUTH – Bill McEachern is back to being a dual threat in the coaching department.
Recently, McEachern has best been known as the boss of the Weymouth High boys soccer program. His Wildcats have never failed to qualify for the playoffs during his 18 years in charge, and they're coming off back-to-back appearances in the Division 1 state semifinals.
Before he was consumed with corner kicks and 4-4-2 alignments, though, McEachern used to concern himself with liberos and rotations. As a junior in 1986, he played on Weymouth's first-ever boys volleyball team under coach Paul Fuller. He eventually took over for Fuller in 1995 and held the job until 2009, when he stepped down to focus on coaching club soccer in the spring.
This spring, though, he had a change of heart, which is why he's added volleyball back onto his plate. Early results are very encouraging. The Wildcats were 2-17 last season, but with their new/old coach running the show, they're 9-9 and still in the hunt for a Division 1 playoff berth.
"I love being back," McEachern said Thursday after a 3-1 loss to Braintree on Senior Day. "It's a great game. It's a great program. It's been a great group of guys to work with this year."
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"I love it," 6-foot-3 senior middle blocker Luke Thompson said of McEachern's influence. "He makes a very big difference in the team. Practices are a lot more organized, games are a lot more organized, very structured. We know what we're doing. It's been much better. It's very different to go from losing almost every match to (this)."
Weymouth could have wrapped up a playoff berth with a victory over Braintree, but instead it was the Wamps (10-6) who punched their Division 1 ticket by rallying for a 3-1 win (19-25, 26-24, 25-16, 25-23). Braintree is a good story, too. The Wamps have made three straight playoff appearances but have been bounced in the first round each time. This team's ceiling could be much higher.
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"It means so much to us," 6-foot-2 senior outside hitter Anthony Volpe said of clinching. "I've been on this team for a couple of years and we've always had a pretty good squad, good enough to make the playoffs, but this year I can tell that we've really put it together. We're ready to get more wins (in the final four regular-season games) and then make a run in the playoffs."
Braintree has elevated its collective game even after graduating standout outside hitter Willson Lin, who rewrote the program's record books.
"Willson was great; he's like a one-man show almost," coach Roberta Stannard said. "This is a huge team – 18 guys. I've never had a roster this large before, and every one of them is good. They give each other quite a challenge on the court when we practice, so that's helped a lot."
Braintree has plenty of star power with Volpe and senior middle blocker Andrew Madden, who had the match-clinching kill against Weymouth.
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Weymouth has plenty of talent, too, including standout freshman outside hitter Kobe Lip. Yes, he's named after the late NBA superstar Kobe Bryant.
"My dad (named me). He was a basketball player," Lin said with a laugh. "He's a little disappointed that I played this sport."
Lip has been great, leading the team in points and serve percentage. A veteran of the club circuit, he's been "a teacher, a coach, a leader and a great player for us," McEachern said. Lip, though, credits Weymouth's seven seniors with mentoring him through his first high school season.
Thompson, one of those seniors, has been equally as impactful, topping the Wildcats in kills and blocks. Said McEachern: "Luke is a go-to guy in the middle for us. He's been really aggressive and done a great job in attack. He's been really consistent for us there."
Weymouth has two more regular-season matches left – next Monday at Brockton (6-11) and next Tuesday at Milton (6-10). The Wildcats have beaten both of those opponents already this season. One more win would see Weymouth qualify for the playoffs for the first time since McEachern's final season of 2009. (Technically, the Wildcats were a playoff team in 2021, off an 0-13 regular season, but there were no qualifying standards that year as the world emerged from the pandemic.)
"They've accomplished so much so far this season," McEachern said of his players. "They've had positive energy all year. I'm happy for them, no matter what (happens). But it would be really exciting for them if they were able to get into the tournament."
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: McEachern's return to coaching has sparked Weymouth boys volleyball
