The season outlook for Moorestown got a whole lot brighter last week.

The Quakers, who entered the season as the favorite to win the Olympic Conference Patriot Division, were dealt a major blow two days after the practice season began in early March when their top player, Tony Velott, suffered a dislocated ankle in a club match.

"The way things looked back then it appeared we wouldn't have Tony back in our regular lineup until the first week of May," Moorestown coach Scott Atkinson said. "At best he may have been able to play some defense by the last week of April. But I wasn't counting on that."

But through hard work and a strong rehab program, Velott was back on the court last week.

"I have to give a lot of credit to the Velocity Sports Performance in Cherry Hill," Velott said of his quick comeback. "The people there were fantastic and they deserve so much credit for getting me back so soon.

"I went there three times a week and it was a lot of hard work involved. But it was worth it because I'm back playing again."

Velott said he hurt the ankle playing for his Warren Six Pack Club team in a tournament in Queens, N.Y.

"I knew as soon as it happened it was bad," Velott said. "I looked down and my foot was out of place and I was in a lot of pain."

"That was a big blow for us," Atkinson said of the injury. "With him out we got weak in three other positions because we had to move guys around. He means so much to our team."

Velott made his comeback on April 11 in a Patriot Division showdown against Clearview. In the Moorestown 2-0 win, Velott had seven kills.

"I have to admit it hurt a lot after that match and I had to ice down for about an hour," said Velott, who now plays with a brace and is heavily taped. "But in our next match (Cherry Hill East) two days later, it didn't bother me at all."

"All I know, it's nice to have him back," Atkinson said.

Improving Pioneers

While Clearview lost its key match to Moorestown, Atkinson came away impressed with the Pioneers.

"They are a very improved team," Atkinson said. "I was impressed how scrappy they were against us."

Clearview coach Chris Adamkiewicz, who has also coached the Clearview boys' soccer team for the past 25 years and was recently selected for the South Jersey Soccer Hall of Fame, is pleased with the way his team has developed.

"We have a chance to be very competitive," said Adamkiewicz, who started the program last year. "We have a close-knit group of kids who play very well together."

Adamkiewicz credits the improvement to hard work during the offseason.

"The kids played during the winter and it shows," he said. "The kids are playing much smarter."

The senior-dominated team is headed by outside hitter Nick Morina. The Pioneers are also getting strong performances from Tom Fritsch, Martin Wraga, Anthony Santone and junior setter Phil Atkins.

"Our goal is to make the state tournament," Adamkiewicz said. "And to contend for the division championship."

Tigers back

This time last year, then-Woodrow Wilson athletic director Joe McColgan pulled the plug on the program citing lack of numbers to field a competitive team. McColgan retired just before the start of the current school year but made sure the program would be reinstated.

"The numbers are decent this year," current athletic director Stanley Ashe said recently. "It is kind of a spill over from the winter seasons since we have been able to get enough kids interested.

"We went through the hallways letting everyone know we have a volleyball program. And through that and some other things we have done we have gotten a decent response. The response was good enough, so I feel we will be able to get through the season OK."