As Franklin Regional begins its second year playing boys volleyball, veteran coach Mike Feorene likes what he sees.
Despite a 3-14 season in 2025, the Panthers were in contention in almost every game.
“Our opponents found out quickly that we were not push overs,” Feorene said. “We were a team to be taken seriously.”
Now Feorene is working to continue to build the Franklin Regional program. He coached the Franklin Regional girls to a WPIAL Class 3A title and PIAA runner-up finish in 2020.
He also coached Norwin’s first boys team in 1994.
“My goal is to put Franklin Regional on the map for boys volleyball,” Feorene said. “We have some talented athletes, and we are in a talented section.”
The Panthers are in Section 3-3A with Armstrong, Hempfield, Latrobe, Norwin and Penn-Trafford.
“There is nothing better than building a program from the bottom up,” Feorene said. “I am seeing the improvement.”
The team has begun the season with nonsection wins against Gateway, Penn Hills and Class 2A power South Park.
The Panthers also finished sixth out of eight teams at the Norwin tournament. They split games with Norwin in pool play, played well against Altoona and lost to Pine-Richland.
During the tournament, 6-foot-8 junior middle blocker Jason Buczynski sustained a knee injury and was having an MRI. Feorene was hoping for good news on the injury.
Despite the loss of Buczynski, who Feorene considers a Division I recruit, he was pleased with the fight and grit team showed.
“Other than the Pine-Richland match, we played well,” Feorene said. “Last year, we played 13 close games.”
Along with Buczynski, the Panthers return six other starters: junior opposite Nico Fioravanti, senior setter Anthony Poole, senior libero Dom Mascara, senior outside hitter Lucas Kozuch, senior middle blocker Cruise Lamanna and senior defensive specialist Josh Chen.
Junior defensive specialist Reid Farberow is also expected to contribute.
Fioravanti also is a star pitcher on the baseball team.
Poole has a lot of experience at the setter position, and Mascara has worked hard on his passing according to Feorene said.
“I expect us to be very competitive,” Feorene said. “We are not one-dimensional. We are a strong passing, good hitting team, and the defense is solid.
“Every team faces some sort of adversity during the season. I expect us to be improved.”
Feorene’s twin daughters, Alexa and Alexis, are assistant coaches. Both played on the 2020 girls’ team.
Franklin Regional was set to open section action May 31 at Norwin. It plays host to Penn-Trafford on April 2, travels to Hempfield on April 7 and hosts Armstrong on April 9.