Athlete of the week: Alex Blokhin

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Chicopee Comp is still the team to beat in boys volleyball, but there are a handful of teams right on its heels. West Springfield is 3-0. Terriers outside hitter Alex Blokhin is the 22News athlete of the week.

"It could be (our year), we could have it, Agawam has a good chance, Minnechaug, Comp they all have a good chance at making it, but we're going to go for it too", says Blokhin.

When you think of spikes in volleyball, usually it's the taller players getting into the action. Alex Blokhin isn't the tallest Terrier, but he is among the Western Mass leaders in kills early this season.

"I've played volleyball my whole life and I have a high vertical so that helps me a lot too", says the West Springfield senior.

West Springfield will try to make the jump into the Western Mass playoffs this season. That is goal number one.

"Get into the tournament, we haven't made it to the tournament for three years", says Blokhin.

First up is the Tournament of Champions this weekend at Holyoke Community College. It will be a good gauge of how the Terriers will fare this season.

"It's a full day tournament, you get to play with your whole team for a full day, it's going to be a lot of practice", says Blokhin.

In a big win over Ludlow last week. Blokhin had 10 kills and 14 digs.