Boys Volleyball is Setting Up for a Great Year!
By Kevin Cahill ('23)
What is the first thing you think of when I say fall sports at North Rockland High School? You might think of the football team, which is fair because they bring in the most attendance out of all the fall sports. You also might think of the Boys and Girls Soccer teams, which are very popular for their solid records of 7-1 and 4-3, respectively. However, one fall sports team you may overlook is the Boys Volleyball team, which has started incredibly strong and is sneaking its way into one of our top sports teams here at the high school.
Paul Squillante ('23) jumps high for a show-stopping hit!
The success of the Boys Volleyball team is even more impressive when you consider that the team has only existed for one year! Although the Girls' Volleyball team has already been around for many years and has seen much success, many people wondered when the male volleyball players would finally get a competitive team of their own. Well, their wish was granted, and in the Fall of 2021, we finally saw the formation of both a Varsity, and a Junior Varsity Boys Volleyball team at NRHS.
Despite the high ambitions, the teams had to face some formidable opponents in their 2021-2022 seasons, causing them to have rough win records. The Varsity team went 1-10, while the JV team went 5-6. However, as the current season progresses, it's clear that last season's poor records were just due to a lack of experience.
This year, is very different. The Varsity team is currently 4-2, and the JV team is 5-0. One of the Varsity captains, Jake Caravano (‘23), expresses his optimism about the season. “We’ve grown a lot since last year. Entering the second year of the program, we have vastly improved. Both our Varsity and JV teams already have better records than last year. We love the sport and we are gonna do our best this year to make it far,” says Jake. Jake is shaping up to be a real standout on the team as shown by his impressive play in the video to the left.
The team forms a huddle to get pumped!
Another Varsity captain, Will Monahan (‘23), shares the same excitement about the rest of the season and is also a big part of the team. With Will as a setter and Jake as a middle blocker, the team seems unstoppable. As a side note, both Jake and Will were listed as two of the Top 22 “Must-Watch” Boys Volleyball Players in Section 1 by Lohud.com.
Besides Jake and Will, there are a ton of other key starters on both teams. On the Varsity team, there’s middle blocker, Jesse Falek (‘23), a Varsity player from last year who is still controlling the court. Tyler Celestin (‘23), another middle blocker, is doing an amazing job as well. Paul Squillante (‘23) is also a key contributor as an outside hitter. There's one more starter in the Varsity lineup, however, I will get to him later in the article, as his involvement is especially impressive.
On the JV team, the biggest standout seems to be middle blocker Max Fausel (‘24), although the entire starting lineup is dominating on the court. All of these amazing players on both teams are leading their teammates to an unbelievable level of success.
Along with the successes of both teams, the volleyball games themselves have been nothing but fun and entertaining. Volleyball is a fast-paced sport with tons of close calls and exciting moments. In addition, there are always a ton of fans and other NR students in attendance. The intense games often lead to some spirited celebrations from the crowd. “Our crowd spirit is off the charts this year,” says Varsity team manager Abey Alex (‘23), “it’s truly something to see.” If you want to join the crowds, check out their official Instagram page (@nr.boys.vb) for their home game schedule.
Will Monahan ('23) setting the ball up for an insane spike!
Jake Caravano ('23) and Logan Kapusinsky ('23), resetting and getting ready for the next set.
Their success along with their growing popularity is taking the school by storm. Several new and enthusiastic players joined the team this year, including the last Varsity starter Logan Kapusinsky (‘23). “I was so excited to join the team this year,” Logan exclaims, “all the coaches and the players are solid and it has been a really fun year so far.” If you wish to learn more about the team and consider trying out next year, I suggest emailing or meeting with the Varsity Head Coach (Margaret Stead) or the JV Head Coach (John Denmead) at some point in time.
With all that said, their next home matches are next Monday, October 3rd against Wappingers High School in the NRHS main gym. The Varsity team plays at 4:30 and the JV team plays at 6:00. Show up and show your Raider Pride!
All photo courtesies of Kevin Cahill