Things are looking up for high school boys volleyball around the state.

Locally, they’re looking pretty good, also.

Last year, volleyball took a hit when Dover didn’t field a team as it had in the past. But the Green Wave is back, and now Farmington High School has added boys volleyball, bringing the total to 16 teams.

“It’s great to see Dover has their team back this year, as well as a new Farmington team,” said Hollis Brookline coach Ed Leonard, whose team captured the title in 2016 and made it to the semis last year. Volleyball is a religion in Hollis, so losing a team is not usually a problem. But that’s not always the case, and it would help if some programs had JV teams.

Statewide, the favorites are likely to remain the same – Timberlane, Salem, and Pinkerton. The Owls topped the Astros for their third title in four years last June, but remember that Salem dominated the sport with 10 straight titles from 2004-2014.

Hollis Brookline, a semifinalist a year ago, should remain strong.

HB Volleyball

COACH: Ed Leonard (fifth year)

LAST SEASON: 13-5, lost to Pinkerton in semifinals.

RETURNING STARTERS: Mike Moscatelli, sr.; Jack Sinclair, sr.; Felix Yang, sr.; Sander Wimmer, Jr.

RETURNING LETTER WINNERS: Matt Wojcik, jr.; Josh Ide, jr.; T.J. McKenna, jr.; Marshall Coutu, jr.; Mitch Cochran, jr.; Connor Russell, jr.

PROMISING NEWCOMERS: Quinten Wimmer, jr.; Max Marshall, so.

COACH’S COMMENTS: “A lot of new faces on varsity this year,” Leonard said. “We’re looking forward to an exciting and fun season.”

Boys Tennis

Hollis Brookline 9,

Pembroke 0

The Cavaliers cruised in their season opener, played indoors at Longfellow Tennis Club in Nashua, thus wind was not a factor.

Singles winners were, in ladder order, Nic Vahe (8-0), Darius Paradie (8-0), David Cherkassky (8-1), Max Burns (8-0), Ben Zielinski (8-3) and Alex Anghel (8-0). The doubles teams Vahe/Paradie (8-0), Cherkassky/Anghel (8-2) and Burns/Zielinski (8-0) all cruised as well.

Girls Tennis

Hollis Brookline 6, Pembroke 3

The Cavs took four of six singles matches to set the tone in their season opener. Winners included top three ladder players Delaney Weimer (8-4), Samantha Randlet (8-7, 7-1 tiebreaker), and Lia Eisenberg (8-2), as well as Samantha Morse at No. 5 (8-0).

The doubles teams of Randlett/Weimer (No. 1, 8-3) and Lindsey Wood/Morse (8-4) helped clinch the win.

Upcoming Schedule

MONDAY, APRIL 8

Baseball

Souhegan at Hollis Brookline, 4 p.m.

Softball

Souhegan at Hollis Brookline, 4 p.m.

Girls lacrosse

Hollis Brookline at Goffstown, 4 p.m.

Boys tennis

Souhegan at Hollis Brookline, 4 p.m. (Longfellow Tennis)

Girls tennis

Hollis Brookline at Souhegan, 4 p.m.

TUESDAY, APRIL 9

Boys volleyball

Hollis Brookline at Bishop Guertin, 5:45 p.m.

Boys and Girls track

Hollis Brookline, John Stark, Trinity at Souhegan, 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10

Baseball

Merrimack Valley at Hollis Brookline, 4 p.m.

Softball

Merrimack Valley at Hollis Brookline, 4 p.m.

Boys lacrosse

Hollis Brookline at Alvirne, 4 p.m.

Boys tennis

Hollis Brookline at Bow, 4 p.m.

Girls tennis

Bow at Hollis Brookline, 4 p.m. (Longfellow Tennis)

FRIDAY, APRIL 12

Baseball

Hollis Brookline at Hanover, 4:30 p.m.

Softball

Hollis Brookline at Hanover, 4:30 p.m.