Love of the game helps Franklin Regional volleyball standout make instant impact

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, August 9, 2025 | 11:01 AM

He gets asked the same question all the time.

“Do you play basketball?”

But Jason Buczynski, at a towering 6-foot-7, lets down inquisitors gently.

Not anymore.

The rising junior at Franklin Regional played from age 6-13 but set aside the sport for another with nets.

“I did not have passion for the game,” he said.

Buczynski soon discovered a newfound passion for volleyball, and he can’t get enough of it.

Franklin Regional started a boys volleyball team last spring, and Buczynski is at the forefront of the movement to grow the game in Murrysville.

He took up volleyball before the sport came to the high school — if some casual fun at the beach counts — but has only been playing at an organized level for a brief time.

Look at him go now.

“I always found the sport interesting, but I did not pursue it because my school did not have a program,” he said. “So, once we did get a program, I immediately jumped on the opportunity to play. With my height being an advantage, I knew this was something I could be good at with enough practice and determination.”

Buczynski went to watch other high school matches last year and viewed a PIAA championship match, saying he was immediately drawn to the intensity and speed of prep volleyball. So, he dedicated himself to learning the finer points of the game and how to use his long frame to his advantage.

The result was a starting spot for the Panthers in their inaugural season and a club spinoff that resulted in a key invite. He played up with A10 VBC Black 17U team in the elite division at the AAU Boys Junior National Championships in early July in Orlando, Fla.

The middle hitter/middle blocker was joined by Franklin Regional teammate Dominic Mascara, a junior who also is a key pillar to the fledgling program.

Team Black made the Gold Bracket for the first time and took eighth out of 78 teams.

Talk about fast progress: Buczynski was one of 13 players selected as an All-American in the elite division.

“Jason is a first-year player, but he is not your typical first-year player,” Franklin Regional coach Mike Feorene said, stressing the not. “Jason came to me last summer before our first season even started and said he was interested in playing. At 6-7, my first thought was, I was never pulling this kid away from basketball. I asked him if he was a forward or a center. He told me he didn’t play basketball.

“My second thought was, he isn’t athletic, or he hasn’t grown into his body yet. I asked if he played any other sports. He said golf. Just as good: strong athletic ability, excellent eye-hand coordination, adaptability, focus, problem solver, emotional control … but most important, commitment to practice.”

Buczynski started at middle back and was a primary passer, his coach said. He made second team all-section after averaging 12 kills a game and hitting .350.

“Jason was always the first one in the gym and still hitting as I was taking the nets down,” Feorene said. “Three days into training and he was all in. Since he had no previous training, his mechanics to hitting, blocking, passing were raw, just the way I wanted them. His mechanics are spot on now with very few bad tendencies.”

Height is the driving force behind Buczynski’s game. Buczynski also weighs 195 pounds, giving him the full roster specs to create matchup issues for opponents.

“The main advantages of my height are my ability to hit over blocks, blocking in general and top-spin serving,” he said. “But being so tall can make it hard to play defense and get low to the ground quick.

“Hands down, my favorite part of volleyball is the team aspect of the sport. In my opinion, no other sport has your success rely on your teammates as much as volleyball. The friendships I have had with my teammates in both club and school have been strong, and there is no better feeling than celebrating your teammates’ successes after a cool play or a clutch hit or dig in crunch time.

“The sense of camaraderie in volleyball is what makes it so enjoyable.”

Buczynski also excels in the classroom where he carries a 4.3 weighted grade-point average. He also played golf for the Panthers.

Feorene said Buczynski is a student of the game.

“His work ethic alone moved him forward very quickly,” Feorene said. “He is a YouTuber in a different sense. He watches volleyball training videos all the time. He told me one day after a match, ‘45/90 coach, that’s why my serving wasn’t on last night. YouTube said I should have my feet at 45/90 when I jump serve.’”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Franklin Regional