Bethel Park boys volleyball focuses on returning program to prominence

By: Ray Fisher
Saturday, March 22, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Adam Thomas had some specific early season wishes for the Bethel Park boys volleyball team.

“Our early expectations are to get our players comfortable in their new positions and build on-court chemistry to help us compete early on,” Thomas said. “We are only returning three starting positions while having two right-side hitters convert to our setter and libero. We lost eight seniors. We expect to keep building the program and compete for a playoff spot.”

Thomas, a middle school math interventionist, is in his second season as the Black Hawks’ coach.

“We are really trying to build a new foundation here at Bethel,” he said. “It starts with team camaraderie and a focus/motivation to strive to get better with every practice and match.

“As long as we learn from our mistakes and limit the frustrations, there’s no reason Bethel Park won’t return to (being) a section threat sooner rather than later.”

The Black Hawks’ group of five returning players is led by Jacob Meyer, a senior outside hitter and all-section selection in 2024.

“There’s no reason not to expect Jacob to lead our team this season and earn first- or second-team all-section honors,” Thomas said. “He has been named a captain for the 2025 season, and I expect his skill set and maturity will help his team on and off the court.”

The 6-foot-2, 160-pound Meyer is a fourth-year starter at Bethel Park.

He also participates with the A10 volleyball club in the offseason and helps out as a coach at Ave Maria Academy.

“My expectation is that we will be a team that will show improvement very fast from game to game,” Meyer said. “I do believe we have what it takes to compete game in and game out. We have a relatively younger team when it comes to varsity experience, but the team is hungry to learn and improve on last season.

“Our team is hungry to get back to the winning program we had during the 2010s. We feel very confident being led by coach Thomas and coach Ina (Helmick), our new JV coach. We are excited to get the season started and get back to Bethel Park volleyball, and we hope for a great season.”

The four other players back this spring are junior setter Ryan Burns, senior right-side hitter/libero Matt Gerber, senior middle blocker Colton Gregg and sophomore outside hitter Joey Boff. Gregg led the Black Hawks in blocks last year.

Carson Foote, a sophomore middle blocker, and Mark Gerber, a freshman right-side hitter, also are being banked on to make an impact in the lineup.

“Carson Foote will be starting at middle for us,” Thomas said, “and I expect Mark Gerber, Grant Gealey and Vince Ollio, all freshmen, to make positive impacts for the varsity by season’s end.”

Bethel Park is a member of Section 1-3A along with Baldwin, Canon-McMillan, Mt. Lebanon, Peters Township and Upper St. Clair.

The Black Hawks finished with a 3-7 section record in 2024 and were 6-12 overall.

Canon-McMillan was the section champion and was joined in the WPIAL playoffs by USC and Baldwin.

“Canon-McMillan has been the powerhouse of the section for a few years now,” Meyer said. “Our section is always highly competitive; there isn’t any easy team you get to play in our division.”

The Bethel Park netters have not advanced to the playoffs since the 2022 season.

“That was my freshman year,” Meyer said. “We squeaked in and put up a good fight against Hempfield.”

Shaler captured last year’s WPIAL 3A championship ahead of North Allegheny and Seneca Valley.

Tags: Bethel Park