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Orchard Park Enters 2026 Boys Volleyball Season With Senior Core

Orchard Park has a Class of 2027-heavy roster and a schedule that quickly tests them across Western New York.

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Pre-season Boys Volleyball

WNY Athletics Staff ·

Overview

  • Orchard Park's roster is built around seniors, with every listed player in the Class of 2027.
  • Gabe Manocchio, Alex Shields and Dylan Grimes bring varsity experience from each of the previous two seasons, giving Coach Matt Lexner an experienced group to shape.
  • Key early schedule markers include trips to Frontier and Williamsville North before home matches with West Seneca West, Clarence and Lancaster in September.

Orchard Park Boys Volleyball Pre-season Preview

Orchard Park enters the 2026 boys volleyball season with a roster that leans heavily on one class and a schedule that should reveal plenty early.

Coach Matt Lexner’s roster includes seniors Will Chelus, Dom Doerr, Dylan Grimes, Mike Hoffstetter, Gabe Manocchio, Luke Perryman, Alex Shields, Will Weakland and Richard Pinkoski. Manocchio, Shields and Grimes each return with varsity experience from the previous two seasons.

According to HighSchoolSports.org's published results, Orchard Park went 6-9 last season after a 4-12 year in 2024-25 and an 18-2 season in 2023-24. The 2026 group will try to build from that recent history with a roster that has been around the program and a new season that includes several familiar opponents.

The early stretch is busy. Orchard Park's listed schedule opens with Williamsville North, then moves into road matches at Frontier on Sept. 14 and Williamsville North on Sept. 18. West Seneca West visits Orchard Park on Sept. 21, followed by a road match at Sweet Home on Sept. 22 and home dates with Clarence on Sept. 24 and Lancaster on Sept. 30.

October brings another challenging run, including St. Francis on Oct. 1, Frontier on Oct. 7, St. Joseph's on Oct. 8 and Hamburg on Oct. 9. Orchard Park then sees Sweet Home, Clarence and Lancaster again, with the last listed match set for Oct. 26 at Lancaster.

For Orchard Park, the preseason picture is straightforward: a senior group, a new campaign under Lexner, and a schedule full of measuring-stick nights.

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