He rarely slams kills, but Jake Basan has been a hit for resurgent Quincy boys’ volleyball

Jake Basan did not register a kill in Quincy’s 3-1 nonleague boys’ volleyball setback against visiting Barnstable on Monday night. The junior prefers it that way.

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He was still present in almost every play, passing and keeping the ball in play for his teammates. He paces the Presidents with 106 digs and 16 serving aces.

Basan made the switch from outside hitter to libero this season, a rare move. While most players would rather get the kills, Basan saw the bigger picture, said Quincy coach Jacqui Niosi.

“I kind of embraced my height,” said the 5-foot-5-inch Basan. “I’m not going to be the tallest hitter. I’m not going to jump the highest. Once I realized that our team succeeded a lot better when I let my other hitters shine, then I could focus on passing. I get so much more hype seeing my teammates get a kill off one of my passes.”

That kind of selflessness, said Niosi, is what makes Basan such an important player. The Presidents (13-4) are headed for the Division 1 tournament after not qualifying the past two years.

“Jake just keeps everything so calm on the court for us,” Niosi said, lauding his leadership. “He keeps people focused, you can hear him all the time. He’ll say, ‘next play,’ ‘short memory,’ things like that.”

Senior setter Minh Nguyen loves having Basan on defense.

“He can get all the free balls to be perfect passes,” said Nguyen, who has a team-leading 174 assists. “It makes my job easier, because I can run all the plays we do in practice. He also holds the defense down. He’s calling out where the set is and what we should do.”

As the boys’ game continues to soar, the importance of playing in the offseason has continued to grow. However, club volleyball typically costs $5,000 to $6,000 annually. Basan saw an opportunity to bring a more affordable option to the South Shore.

While Mass Patriots Volleyball Club, a significantly less costly option, already had girls’ teams, there were none for boys. Niosi told Basan he needed to find 10 boys who wanted to join.

“I hunted down everyone who I thought would play,” said Basan, a four-year varsity starter. “Most of it was just my friends from high school. They’re all so dedicated to the sport, and they’re kind of in the same situation where they didn’t want to play for a club that was super expensive.”

Basan has noticed his teammates’ improvement through club play, fueling the program’s first run to the tournament since 2023. Four Quincy starters play for Mass Pats.

“It gives them some extra confidence,” Niosi said. “Just having those extra touches, having some time with different coaches to get different styles and different perspectives, I think every little bit helps.”

Nguyen credits Basan for pushing him to be the person he is today.

“We used to have early morning practice before school started,” he said. “It’s hard to wake up at 6:15, but whenever I do it with Jake, it was easier, because he was always there for me.”

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Basan, who will enroll at Wentworth in the fall, hopes to walk on the volleyball team.

With increasing visibility and leadership roles comes increased pressure, but over the past four years, Basan has developed coping mechanisms that he’s passed on.

“I notice small things in my teammates that will get them down and that will get them up, and it can be as small as giving them a high-five after every play, complimenting them, or saying a word or phrase that will help them,” he said.

“It’s mind-set. Not giving up on our team, because I really am a believer that attitude reflects leadership.”

▪ No. 9 Barnstable (15-2) continues to dominate led by senior captain Brady Kundel, who just starred in his high school production of “Mamma Mia!” as Bill and Pepper, alternately. The Red Hawks, under the direction of coach Marylou Robles, are tall, quick, and have an intimidating attack. They overwhelm opponents, forcing mistakes.

In a particularly impressive play during Monday’s 3-1 nonleague win at Quincy, Kundel (outside hitter) and libero Enzo Santos saved a ball that soared from back court toward the ceiling, looking impossible to hit. When it seemed like a clear point for Quincy, Santos didn’t give up and rushed to get the ball over the net.

Santos and Kundel (14 kills, 13 digs) were aided by seniors Matheus Alvarenga(28 assists, 12 kills) and Joao Pedro Andrade (11 kills, four blocks). They ultimately won the set, 25-15.

“We’re all really close on and off the court,” said Kundel. “The setting has been amazing. We are a swing-first team, a lot of the time, because we have a lot of power hitters. But sometimes you have to focus it back, play patient, slow it down, get the ball up.”

Barnstable advanced to the Division 1 quarterfinals last spring. With their hitting and defensive play, the Red Hawks can make another run.

▪ Needham (14-3) became the first team to knock off reigning Division 1 champion Brookline (13-1), with a 3-0 road win Thursday night.

The Rockets, who were following up a 3-1 win Tuesday over Natick, were paced by senior setter Luke Vivaldi (43 assists), who has come back strong the past two years after missing his sophomore season due to hip surgery. Senior hitter Will Rozman had 17 kills.

On Friday, Needham (4.7914) was ranked third in the behind Natick (4.8480) and Brookline (4.8081).

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