St. John's Pioneers Volleyball
#PioneerEra
SJVB Photos:
Pioneer History:
League Championships:
2019
2021
2023
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State Quarterfinal Appearances:
2000
2002
2024
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State Semifinal Appearances:
2024
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State Championship Appearances:
None
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State Championships:
None
CURRENT ERA:
2025: 10-11 (MIAA Round of 16)
2024: 9-11 (MIAA Round of 32)
2023: 18-5 (MIAA State Semifinalists)
2022: 10-10 (MIAA Round of 32)
2021: 11-3 (MIAA Central Quarter-Finalists)
2020: Cancelled2019-2010:
2019: 17-7 (MIAA Central Quarter-Finalists)
2018: 10-11 (MIAA Central 1st Round)
2017: 10-9 (MIAA Central 1st Round)
2016: 2-16 (No Playoffs)
2015: 6-12 (No Playoffs)
2014: 7-11 (No Playoffs)
2013: 4-13 (No Playoffs)
2012: 4-13 (No Playoffs)
2011: 6-16 (No Playoffs)
2010: 6-16 (No Playoffs)
2009-2000:
2009: 9-13 (No Playoffs)
2008: 9-12 (No Playoffs)
2007: 13-11 (MIAA Central 2nd Round)
2006: 13-7 (MIAA Central Quarter-Finalists)
2005: 10-11 (MIAA Central 1st Round)
2004: 13-8 (MIAA Central Quarter-Finalists)
2003: 12-12 (MIAA Central Quarter-Finalists)
2002: 17-6 (MIAA Central Finalists)
2001: 15-8 (MIAA Central Semi-Finalists)
2000: 17-7 (MIAA Central Finalists)
Pioneers In First
For the 1st time since 2023, the Pioneers sit alone atop the Catholic Conference. Powered by 16 kills from August McGonagle, a full roster effort, including the match ending kill by junior Sean Hoban, gave the Pioneers a 3-0 sweep on the road at #19 BC High. Pioneers improve to 3-0 and are the only undefeated team in the conference. This was the first ranked win for the Pioneers of the season.
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Pioneers will face off with #5 Agawam on Wednesday at home.
Lions Dominate Pioneers
Pioneers played host to the #9 Lions from Newton South Friday night to finish off the week. Pioneers were unable to slow down the powerful offense and get swept 3-0 to fall to 2-4 on the year. Pioneers will look to re-group as they travel to BC High on Monday in a battle of Catholic Conference undefeateds.
Pioneers Survive Struggles
Despite struggles with consistency throughout the match, the Pioneers pulled out a 3-0 sweep over Xaverian on the road Thursday. Pioneers will look to quickly clean it up as they host #9 Newton South on Friday night!
Pioneers Drop Home Opener
Streaky Pioneers lose home opener to #2 Wayland on Tuesday. With moments of great, the Pioneer's struggled heavily with consistency, which led to the 3-0 loss to the Warriors. Now at 1-3, Pioneers will return to Catholic Conference play when they head to Xaverian on Thursday!
Pioneers Fall to Rockets
Pioneers show growth, but end up falling in straight sets to #3 Needham on the road Saturday morning. This dropped the Pioneers to 1-2 overall. Pioneers continue tough stretch with #2 Wayland coming to town on Tuesday!
Pioneers Take Rivalry Match for First Win
With a lot of new faces taking part in the traditional rivalry on both sides, St. John's overcame 41 unforced errors to snag a 3-1 road win to move to 1-1 on the season on Thursday night at St. John's Prep. Led by August McGonagle's 19 kills and 36 assists from Lucas Foster, the Pioneers sit at 1-0 in the Catholic Conference.
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Pioneers have a quick turnaround as they head to Needham on Saturday for an early morning battle with the 3rd-ranked Rockets!
New Pioneers Come Up Short In Opener
Bolstering a completely new lineup, Pioneers came up short against #7 Newton North in the 2026 Season Opener. Pioneers received strong backrow play from sophomore libero Tait Ta and showed moments of growth throughout the match. Pioneers will look to regroup quickly as they head to St. John's Prep Thursday for their Catholic Conference opener!
Pioneers unranked in the MassHSVB Pre-Season Poll
For the 1st time since 2018, the Pioneers, who will look to rebuild a roster that saw the loss of 12 players from last year's sweet sixteen season, are unranked in the MassHSVB pre-season poll.
2026 Schedule Released!
Here we go! The 2026 schedule has officially been released!
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After a battle tested 2026 campaign saw the Pioneers upset #10 Springfield Central on their way to the sweet-16, St. John's will enter their 1st rebuilding season since 2020. With the loss of 11 players from last year's varsity roster and only 1 returning starter, the Pioneers enter another tough regular season. The Pioneers will look for surprise the Catholic Conference as they were picked 3rd in the conference and are unranked by MassHSVB for the 1st time since 2018.
Led by Jackson Foster, a crew of younger players, headlined by August McGonagle and Lucas Foster will look to battle out in one of the toughest schedules in the state. Pioneers will have 19 matches & the 2025 Rhody Invitational, which is headlined by nine Top-10 matches as a part of their game schedule.
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Head over to the Schedule Page to check out the full schedule!
Pioneers fall to Barnstable
The Pioneers saw their season come to a close on Tuesday night as they dropped a close 3-1 battle with the 26th seeded Red Hawks from Barnstable in the Sweet sixteen.
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Pioneers finish the season at 10-11. Congratulations to our 10 seniors and good luck!
Pioneers finish 4th
After a tough start on Friday, the Pioneers showed a lot more fight on Saturday in the consolation match of the 2025 Pioneer Kick-Off Classic. St. John's would eventually fall to #7 Lexington 3-0 (18-25, 17-25, 18-25).
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Pioneers will get some reps in on Sunday as they prepare to host #6 Westfield on Monday night!
McGonagle New Kill Leader
Following a 9-kill performance against 7th ranked Lexington on Saturday, Francis McGonagle has surpassed the career kill record at St. John's. The record was previously held by Matt Deeley ('23) at 531. Saturday's finish puts McGonagle at 537 and counting.
McGonagle Earns All-State!
Pioneer's Francis McGonagle was selected as a 2024 MAVCA All-State team this past Saturday when the team was announced at the annual All-Star Game! Francis is the 5th All-State selection in school history & the 1st ever junior to receive this acknowledgement!
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Francis joins Senior Eric Barcelos who was selected as a Central Mass All-Star.
Congrats Eric & Francis!
Pioneers land 3 on Catholic Conference board!
Congratulations to Seniors Eric Barcelos & Suraj Marla and Junior Francis McGonagle on being selected as members of the 2024 Catholic Conference All-Star team this past week!
Pioneers finish 2nd
Despite an 0-1 start to the 2024 season, the pioneers were able to battle back against Catholic Conference foes all season, including revenge on St. John's Prep to finish in 2nd place in the Catholic Conference. This is the 5th straight season that the Pioneers have finished in the top-2 in the conference!
Pioneers take 3rd in the 2024 ALS One Invitational
Pioneers hit the road to Winchester on Thursday & Friday to face off with #2 Needham, #7 Winchester & #18 Cambridge R&L. To open the tournament, St. John's took on Needham in a rematch of last season's state semifinals. Despite a hot start from SJ, Pioneers lost to the second-ranked Rockets 3-0. In match number two, Cambridge R&L faced off with Winchester, which saw the host team taking the match 3-0.
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Pioneers regrouped on Friday as they grabbed their 1st ranked win of the season 3-0 against #18 Cambridge R&L. Eric Barcelos shined with 21 kills, 6 aces, 9 blocks during the tournament which earned him a spot on the 2024 all-tournament team!
2024 Highlight Film: