What the heck is Ecuavoley? Brothers meld Ecuadorian game with boys' volleyball at Milford High.

Boston Globe

26-04-2025

Part of the Ecuadorian population in Milford, the brothers played with their friends, watched Jorge play with other parents in backyards and at Fino Field, and in the past few years formed their own trio that wins most of its matches.
Now a defensive specialist and senior captain, John is a key part of a 8-2 start for the ninth-ranked Scarlet Hawks as they look to be the first champion of the Hockomock League's new boys' volleyball division.
'When both of them made it to the high school, they had a really natural touch on the ball,' said Milford coach
Andrew Mainini
. 'You could tell they had hundreds, if not thousands, of contacts on a volleyball before getting to ninth grade.'
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Milford senior captain John Saguay (center) is flanked by his freshman brother Bryan (right) and father Jorge, who introduced them to the game Ecuavoley.
Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe
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Ecuavoley is
John, a
volador
on the family team, found the Ecuadorian style helped him in the high school game.
'I have to learn how to predict how the ball would go, instead of having someone else worry about it. I have to cover more space,' he said, describing Ecuavoley. 'I learned how to get it better with one hand when I couldn't get it with two.'
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Initially, Jorge (the family team's
colocador
) suggested his sons play high school volleyball to improve their Ecuavoley skills. Where a lot of Ecuavoley players will underhand serve with the higher net, John's scholastic experience made him proficient at keeping the ball in with an overhand delivery. He developed a quick launch while maintaining accuracy that gives Milford an advantage.
'If we're looking for someone to serve in a particular seam or to a particular zone of the court, he's a really good option for us because he is really consistent and tactical with it,' Mainini said.
3-set win for
— AJ (@aj_traub)
It is harder with the Ecuavoley ball, but he makes the adjustment and has a 92 percent service rate.
'For Ecuadorian volleyball, I have to put force into the ball,' John explained. 'In American volleyball, I have to absorb the force.'
From weekends playing with friends, to competitive play as a family team, to a the Milford freshman team, Bryan thought the transition would be tougher.
John Saguay has helped Milford reach No. 17 in the latest Globe Top 20 poll.
Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe
A
servidor
for his family, he had not faced the power that hitters bring when the net is lower. His other Ecuavoley skills, such as positioning, helped him counter that difference as a setter.
He finds his teammates improve when they try it too.
'It feels unique,' Bryan said. 'I tell them how it's different. Sometimes they're interested in that and want to play. The more we play, the more connected we feel. We learn some of the basic things that help them with American volleyball.
'It helps them react faster. You need to react to move to the ball, especially when it's a slight tap.'
Though the brothers are able to lock in when they need to, they mostly keep it fun.
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'The thing about Bryan is that he's very upbeat. He's a very happy guy,' said senior setter
Jason Comisky
. 'I could see it in his playing. He plays with a lot of energy the whole time and he's a real leader on the court. The same goes for John.'
Jorge has never lost his enjoyment for the sport. If he has a headache, he'll invite his friends to play and it goes away. He watches his sons play whenever he can, even though their matches start at different times, and sometimes he has to leave work early to make it.
'To see them here, having fun, to know they're happy to be at the school playing,' he said, 'That makes me happy.'
Coach Andrew Mainini and the Scarlet Hawks knocked off No. 10 Cambridge, 3-2, on Friday for their eighth win.
Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe
Set points
▪ Cambridge is on pace to blow past its 11 wins from last season. The Falcons (8-2) graduated top hitter
Henry Bonney
(now at Vassar) and libero
Tashi Mulug-Labrang
, but setter
Eric Su
is one of just three seniors this year and spreads the offensive touches out.
Juniors
Brennan Loud
and
Nate O'Connell
have paced the No. 10 Falcons at the net, with four wins over ranked teams.
'They absolutely love playing volleyball,' said Cambridge coach
Kelley Leary
. 'They have good IQ too. They understand the game and break it down in ways that I can't say I've had in a while. They ask good questions. It's a fun group.'
• In the next set of proposed division alignments, a few major Division 2 contenders would be moving up, barring successful appeals.
Agawam (10-1), the 2023 champion, is the big name slated to move up. West Springfield (8-2) and Chicopee Comprehensive (7-3) are other significant teams planned to enter D1.
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Chicopee Comp made a run to the quarterfinals as the 22-seed last year with mostly sophomores, and the Colts are showing it was not a fluke. One of their wins is Agawam's only loss.
Games to watch
Monday, No. 15 Methuen at No. 11 Lowell, 5 p.m.
— It took the second matchup between these two to decide the Merrimack Valley champion last season. This is the first Rangers vs. Red Raiders matchup since Methuen won its second MVC title.
Monday, No. 5 Lexington at No. 10 Cambridge, 5:45 p.m.
— The fifth- and sixth-ranked teams will go head-to-head in a match that could shake up the rankings.
Wednesday, No. 20 O'Bryant at No. 16 BC High, 5 p.m.
— After winning only five sets in its last five matches, BC High will have to persevere to turn the tide against this top 20 team.
Thursday, No. 7 St. John's (Shrewsbury) at No. 8 St. John's Prep, 5 p.m.
— The Pioneers won the first rivalry matchup in April. St. John's Prep will look to take for the rematch as the two teams race to the top of the Catholic Conference standings.
Correspondent Alexa Podalsky contributed to this story.
AJ Traub can be reached at