Boys varsity volleyball falls short in NYSAIS semi-finals

SENIORS+STEPHEN+SKRENTA%2C+JACK+Borwick+and+Cesco+Desiderio+prepare+for+their+senior+game+against+Riverdale+Country+Day+School.+This%0Awas+the+teams+final+home+game+of+the+season.+The+team+won+the+game+winning+three+sets+to+zero+absolutely+dominating+throughout+the+entire%0Agame.Shortly+after%2C+the+team+celebrated+their+seniors+with+a+ceremony+showing+their+appreciation+for+their+devotion+to+the+team+over+the+years.

Josh Markowitz

SENIORS STEPHEN SKRENTA, JACK Borwick and Cesco Desiderio prepare for their senior game against Riverdale Country Day School. This was the teams final home game of the season. The team won the game winning three sets to zero absolutely dominating throughout the entire game.Shortly after, the team celebrated their seniors with a ceremony showing their appreciation for their devotion to the team over the years.

Adam Bello and Gisele Cestaro

Boys varsity volleyball made it to the NYSAIS playoffs and have been on an absolute tear as of late. On May 10, the boys had their senior game against Riverdale Country Day, and won three sets to zero. Many family members and students came to support the seniors in their last regular season game. Senior Jack Borwick, a two year player, played outside and had multiple spikes, leading them to victory.  

Soon after, they secured their spot in the second round of the playoffs in a win over Dwight on May 20. This has been a special season for the team as their eleven man roster almost entirely consists of seniors with only three juniors on the team, Lucas Seguinot, Eli Savage, and Oliver Jones.

In their 13 games this season, out of which seven were losses and six wins, the team became more consistent and really kicked into high gear towards the end of the regular season. Coach Bai Zhang, better known as Coach Betty, and Coach Jansen have been a huge part of the team’s success, creating an environment where the players can play freely and be connected as a team. Steven Skrenta, a first year senior on the team, elaborated on his experience with both the team and the coaches saying “This year on the volleyball team was exceptional.  As a team we created unreal chemistry and all became closer with each other.  That being said, after talking with coaches Betty and Ms. Jansen, we reviewed how the year went the team was in agreement that practices needed to be more aggressive and well organized.  In the years to come I expect that the team will only get stronger and stronger, and will bring home NYSAIS soon.” 

Practices consistent with warming up, scrimmages, and different passing exercises. They normally play a game called “Kings”, where one team starts on the king side and the rest of them form groups of three to fight to get to the other side of the court. David Ferrando, who plays middle, described the environment of practices with his team. “It was super upbeat and we were all really competitive which made it a lot of fun. Whenever one of us made a mistake, we would always lift each other up.”

Cesco Desiderio, a three year member of the team, commented on his excitement as a senior in his last moments of playing. “It’s a really good social environment, and I think as a senior it’s really fun to hang out with your friends,” he said. 

Borwick commented on the loss he felt last year, and the excitement that was to come for the second round of playoffs. “Last year, we had a heartbreaking loss. But this year I feel our team is strong enough to call for revenge.” 

 Unfortunately, in the second round of playoffs against Horace Man on May 22, they lost three sets to zero. Ferrando said, “Although we ended on a bad loss, we still accomplished so much this season and we are so happy that we made it to the semi-finals of NYSAIS playoffs.”