Sports
Milford’s Gus Da Silva makes teammates laugh, opponents cringe
During much of the last three sets, if you closed your eyes for a moment, you could almost forget you were in Lexington.
Against an upper-tier Minutemen group riding a 10-game win streak at the end of April, the Milford boys volleyball team transformed the small gym into a home away from home. The junior varsity squad’s booming cheers from the bleachers ignited the bench, who echoed every holler in a regular season matchup with a state quarterfinal feel. And on the court, super-charged junior outside hitter Gus Da Silva traded hits with Lexington’s Ale Luciani in a five-set thriller Milford lost by just two points.
Lexington ranks at No. 5 in the latest Div. 1 power rankings, with the state tournament almost a week away. It’s drawn praise as the leading candidate to break up the Bay State Conference’s grip on the Final Four.
The Scarlet Hawks, with Da Silva as their only returning starter from a trip to the state semifinals last year, rank No. 22.
“That game really showed us how good we are defensively and how good we can be,” Da Silva said. “The hype-ness, especially from our JV team and freshman team, if it wasn’t for them, I think we would’ve struggled a lot. They really boosted us as a team and our energy just skyrocketed. I think that’s what really pushed us that game. It was a good game. It felt like a home game, I can’t lie.”
Milford has a history of tenacity in numbers, wearing hearts on sleeves and producing a storm of energy that’s hard for opponents to bottle up. Last year’s senior-laden group, led by stars Alex Guerra and Arthur Gomes, showed a strong, team-wide friendship at the heart of it every day with Da Silva – a culture the junior focuses on maintaining this year.
To Scarlet Hawks head coach Andrew Mainini, that’s Da Silva’s superpower, outside of his talents as one of the state’s better outside hitters. And when Milford competes with Lexington, or beats a Cambridge (ranked No. 6) in five sets, or leads sets against Div. 1 and Div. 2 powerhouses Newton North and Agawam, that unity shines bright.
“I think off of the court, he is someone that the entire team likes, and he makes them laugh, and he brings the team together socially,” Mainini said. “The way he interacts with his teammates is really positive, and that has really brought the team – a pretty inexperienced team that was very new to each other – he has really brought the team together. And when we play defense, we often look like a well-oiled machine with a lot of chemistry. And I think that is partially because Gus has kind of united everyone as friends.”
“I want to be like a team that has a lot of chemistry and enjoys playing with each other, no hatred,” Da Silva added. “You know, that’s my focus. … We’re always hanging out. We’re always eating lunch (together). After practices or games, we’re always like together, you know, bonding as a team. So, that’s our primary goal, is just being together. When we’re at our low, we stay together, and when we’re achieving, everyone’s supporting each other.”
There’s a lot to Da Silva’s game that makes him a player to watch. Newton North and Lexington struggled at times to disrupt his hitting, which Mainini says comes from a dynamic swing that produces at the toughest of angles. The team is strong with its serve-receive, of which Da Silva is one of its best at. He’s been a standout passer.
When asked of those contributions when Milford is at its best, Da Silva points to the team. But when the Scarlet Hawks struggle, which has come in waves in an 11-8 record, the junior feels responsible for it.
“I have to take, like, the blame for it,” Da Silva said. “Everyone looks up to me, so I have to be a great role model to everyone. And sometimes I don’t do that. But I’m trying to keep myself at a very high standard for the most part.”
Milford, which has high expectations for what it can do in the state tournament despite its ranking, has shown more positives than negatives.
An upset loss to Taunton to share the new Hockomock League title with it was something Mainini felt Da Silva took pretty harshly. A 3-0 loss to Acton-Boxboro earlier in the week was frustrating, too. But in the first two sets, Milford was seemingly full control.
Against Newton North, which eventually lost top outside hitter Simon Vardeh to injury late in the third set, Milford led or competed well into at least the middle of all four sets in a 3-1 loss. Agawam is Div. 2’s leading title favorite, and Milford led in sets against it as well. The five-set win over Cambridge was a match Da Silva especially thrived in.
“I think when we play our best,” Mainini said. “it’s because (Da Silva) is, you know, bringing the team together and pushing them forward.”
Consistency is the key, and Da Silva has worked hard on his leadership to limit the low moments. Da Silva admits the pressure he feels with jumping from a role player last year to a central leader this year, a pressure that’s been both enjoyable and difficult. But he’s taking it in stride, and is focused on guiding the Scarlet Hawks as they look to improve their close-outs to sets.
“We’re really playing well until that closing moment (in the losses),” he said. “We just need to sense a little bit of blood, and athletes close the game every time. … Really it’s just working harder every day.”
Passion for the sport comes almost naturally for Da Silva, who dropped other sports to focus on volleyball and work as a barber. He plays for Smash volleyball in the offseason, and has made friendships and improved there, too.
“(Volleyball) means a lot (to me),” Da Silva said. “It’s like, my safe space, in a way. It brings me closer to my friends. It’s like, really calming and it’s just peaceful, you know?”
With those friends, he’s looking forward to making some noise in the state tournament. The whole team – bolstered by junior Diego Inacio-Santos, sophomore Sam Abreu and a well-balanced defense – is too.
“We’re ready, and we’re excited to potentially be the underdog who gets a couple upsets in the tournament,” Mainini said. “We know that we are more talented than a (22) seed.”
Originally Published:
North Texas’ first women’s professional volleyball team will officially launch its inaugural season on Saturday, Jan. 10.
DALLAS — For North Texas volleyball fans, Saturday’s season opener represents more than just a first serve, it’s the beginning of something the region has been waiting for.
The Dallas Pulse, the region’s first women’s professional volleyball team, will open its inaugural season Saturday, Jan. 10, hosting the Indiana franchise at Comerica Center in Frisco.
The matchup marks the first Major League Volleyball game played by a Dallas-based team and is a milestone moment for the metroplex.
The Pulse will play 14 home matches during the 2026 Major League Volleyball season, giving local fans a consistent opportunity to support a women’s pro team built in their own backyard.
- Saturday, Jan. 10 – Indy
- Thursday, Jan. 15 – San Diego
- Thursday, Feb. 5 – Omaha
- Sunday, Feb. 8 – Grand Rapids
- Thursday, Feb. 19 – Indy
- Sunday, Feb. 22 – Grand Rapids
- Friday, Feb. 27 – Orlando
- Friday, March 13 – Columbus
- Sunday, March 15 – Atlanta
- Saturday, March 21 – San Diego
- Thursday, March 26 – Atlanta
- Friday, April 17 – Columbus
- Friday, May 1 – Omaha
- Sunday, May 3 – Orlando
Leading the team into its first season is head coach Shannon Winzer, who was named to the role in September. The January debut places Dallas at the center of the league’s early growth as women’s professional volleyball continues to gain momentum nationwide.
The timing feels right for North Texas. The region has long been a volleyball hotbed, producing elite athletes through nationally recognized club programs, championship high school teams and top-tier collegiate programs. Until now, many of those players, and the fans who followed them, had no local professional team to rally behind.
Dallas Pulse leadership told WFAA that they hope to change that.
Season ticket deposits are currently open, and the Pulse holds the No. 1 overall pick in the Major League Volleyball Draft scheduled for Nov. 24, giving the team a chance to add a cornerstone player ahead of its debut season.
Major League Volleyball is also preparing for future growth, announcing plans to add expansion teams in Washington, D.C. and Northern California in 2027.
LONG BEACH, Calif. — UC San Diego men’s volleyball will prepare for the upcoming season with four exhibitions this weekend as part of the North American Challenge. The event will be hosted by Long Beach State on Friday and Sunday at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid.
The Tritons will play two Canadian sides, Alberta and Calagry. They will play each team once on both days of the challenge.
SCHEDULE
Friday, Jan. 2
- 2 PM – vs Calgary
- 4:30 PM – vs Alberta
Sunday, Jan. 4
- 12:30 PM – vs Alberta
- 3 PM – vs Calgary
Live stats for all four matches will be available HERE. Fans interested in attending matches can purchase tickets through Long Beach State HERE.
UP NEXT
The Tritons open the 2026 season at home next Tuesday, Jan. 6. Jessup will visit LionTree Arena for a match that begins at 7 PM.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world’s preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – With the season just around the corner, the Long Beach State Men’s Volleyball team will host the North American Challenge, a preseason exhibition tournament featuring four teams from the United States and Canada. The two-day event will take place Friday, January 2, and Sunday, January 4, with matches held at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid.
Joining the Beach in the tournament are UC San Diego, Calgary, and Alberta, bringing together a competitive mix of NCAA and U SPORTS programs for early-season action. The tournament will feature eight total matches across the two days, providing fans with a full slate of high-level volleyball.
Schedule
Friday, January 2
| Time | Matchup (Home vs. Away) |
|---|---|
| 11:30 AM | Long Beach State vs. Alberta |
| 2:00 PM | UC San Diego vs. Calgary |
| 4:30 PM | UC San Diego vs. Alberta |
| 7:00 PM | Long Beach State vs. Calgary |
Sunday, January 4
| Time | Matchup (Home vs. Away) |
|---|---|
| 10:00 AM | Long Beach State vs. Calgary |
| 12:30 PM | UC San Diego vs. Alberta |
| 3:00 PM | UC San Diego vs. Calgary |
| 5:30 PM | Long Beach State vs. Alberta |
Following each match, a Player of the Match from each team will be recognized. At the conclusion of the tournament, an All-Tournament Team will be selected.
Tickets can be purchased HERE.
Live statistics for all matches will be available via BeachLiveStats.StatBroadcast.com.
Pitt received a commitment from former Kentucky middle blocker/right-side hitter Jordyn Dailey.
Dailey is a redshirt sophomore and will have two years of eligibility. The 6-foot-2 North Carolina native racked up 188 kills, 116 blocks and 42 digs over the past two seasons. Dailey recorded 142 kills, 82 blocks and a .314 hitting percentage in 2024. Her numbers dipped to 46 kills, 34 blocks and a .211 hitting percentage in 2025.
Pitt lost middle blocker Ryla Jones to Penn State through the transfer portal.
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