Love of the sport helps Franklin Regional volleyball standout make on the spot affect – Trib HSSN

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, August 9, 2025 | 11:01 AM
Franklin Regional’s Jason Buczynski performed within the AAU Boys Junior Nationwide Championships in July in Orlando.
He will get requested the identical query on a regular basis.
“Do you play basketball?”
However Jason Buczynski, at a towering 6-foot-7, lets down inquisitors gently.
Not anymore.
The rising junior at Franklin Regional performed from age 6-13 however put aside the game for an additional with nets.
“I didn’t have ardour for the sport,” he mentioned.
Buczynski quickly found a newfound ardour for volleyball, and he can’t get sufficient of it.
Franklin Regional began a boys volleyball workforce final spring, and Buczynski is on the forefront of the motion to develop the sport in Murrysville.
He took up volleyball earlier than the game got here to the highschool — if some informal enjoyable on the seashore counts — however has solely been enjoying at an organized stage for a short time.
Have a look at him go now.
“I at all times discovered the game fascinating, however I didn’t pursue it as a result of my college didn’t have a program,” he mentioned. “So, as soon as we did get a program, I instantly jumped on the chance to play. With my peak being a bonus, I knew this was one thing I could possibly be good at with sufficient apply and dedication.”
Buczynski went to look at different highschool matches final 12 months and considered a PIAA championship match, saying he was instantly drawn to the depth and pace of prep volleyball. So, he devoted himself to studying the finer factors of the sport and learn how to use his lengthy body to his benefit.
The consequence was a beginning spot for the Panthers of their inaugural season and a membership spinoff that resulted in a key invite. He performed up with 17U Black within the elite division on the AAU Boys Junior Nationwide Championships in early July in Orlando, Fla.
The center hitter/center blocker was joined by Franklin Regional teammate Dominic Mascara, a junior who is also a key pillar to the fledgling program.
Staff Black made the Gold Bracket for the primary time and took eighth out of 78 groups.
Speak about quick progress: Buczynski was one in all 13 gamers chosen as an All-American within the elite division.
“Jason is a first-year participant, however he isn’t your typical first-year participant,” Franklin Regional coach Mike Feorene mentioned, stressing the not. “Jason got here to me final summer time earlier than our first season even began and mentioned he was thinking about enjoying. At 6-7, my first thought was, I used to be by no means pulling this child away from basketball. I requested him if he was a ahead or a middle. He informed me he didn’t play basketball.
“My second thought was, he isn’t athletic, or he hasn’t grown into his physique but. I requested if he performed every other sports activities. He mentioned golf. Simply pretty much as good: robust athletic capability, glorious eye-hand coordination, adaptability, focus, drawback solver, emotional management … however most necessary, dedication to apply.”
Buczynski began at center again and was a main passer, his coach mentioned. He made second workforce all-section after averaging 12 kills a recreation and hitting .350.
“Jason was at all times the primary one within the fitness center and nonetheless hitting as I used to be taking the nets down,” Feorene mentioned. “Three days into coaching and he was all in. Since he had no earlier coaching, his mechanics to hitting, blocking, passing have been uncooked, simply the way in which I needed them. His mechanics are spot on now with only a few unhealthy tendencies.”
Top is the driving drive behind Buczynski’s recreation. Buczynski additionally weighs 195 kilos, giving him the total roster specs to create matchup points for opponents.
“The primary benefits of my peak are my capability to hit over blocks, blocking normally and top-spin serving,” he mentioned. “However being so tall could make it arduous to play protection and get low to the bottom fast.
“Palms down, my favourite a part of volleyball is the workforce facet of the game. In my view, no different sport has your success depend on your teammates as a lot as volleyball. The friendships I’ve had with my teammates in each membership and faculty have been robust, and there’s no higher 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 pleasant.”
Buczynski additionally excels within the classroom the place he carries a 4.3 weighted grade-point common. He additionally performed golf for the Panthers.
Feorene mentioned Buczynski is a pupil of the sport.
“His work ethic alone moved him ahead in a short time,” Feorene mentioned. “He’s a YouTuber in a unique sense. He watches volleyball coaching movies on a regular basis. He informed me someday after a match, ‘45/90 coach, that’s why my serving wasn’t on final evening. YouTube mentioned I ought to have my toes at 45/90 once I bounce serve.’”
Invoice Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter masking native sports activities in Westmoreland County. He will be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Franklin Regional

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