Harwood picks Arsenault to lead volleyball program

August 28, 2020  |  Waterbury Roundabout

Peter Arselault will lead the Harwood Union volleyball program this fall. Photo courtesy Harwood Athletics.

Harwood Union Athletic Director Chris Langevin announced Monday the choice of a new head coach for the Highlander volleyball program this fall. 

Peter Arsenault is joining the Harwood Union Middle School and High School staff as a physical education teacher and will take on the volleyball coaching position as well. 

“Peter’s vast volleyball knowledge and experience will be crucial to the development of our program and student-athletes,” Langevin said. “The excitement and passion that Peter has in teaching the game of volleyball is palpable, and I can’t wait to see him get started.” 

Arsenault is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, where he played rugby and volleyball. He previously coached volleyball at Needham High School in Massachusetts, before moving to Vermont. He joins the Harwood staff from U-32 High School where he taught physical education. 

“I’m getting super-excited to help bring the love of volleyball into the Highlander 

community,” Arsenault said, “Let’s reach high and hit hard!” 

Arsenault comes on as high school sports will need to adapt this fall to new public health guidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For volleyball, that will mean indoor practices and scrimmages, but matches against teams from other schools will be held outdoors. 

“The game of volleyball has been growing exponentially in Vermont, and this fall, due to COVID, it will be a completely different game moving it outdoors,” Langevin said. “It’ll be interesting to see how the student-athletes and coaches adapt to this change. I’m just happy we were able to offer volleyball still, and get our student-athletes back together.”

The Highlanders first game was originally scheduled for Sept. 2, but the later start to the academic year has meant a delay in sports schedules as well. Practices will start on Sept. 8, the first day of the school year. An updated game schedule is still being developed and will be released soon, Langevin said. 

Harwood’s girls volleyball team participates in Division I, the only division at the high school level for a sport that’s growing in Vermont. Langevin said there has not been enough interest for Harwood to form a boys team yet.