South boys volleyball blends; North more balanced
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Senior captains Spencer McIntyre, far left, Frank Pieri and Scott Steimer bring a ton of varsity experience to Williamsville South varsity boys volleyball this fall. Photo by Joe Eberle

Williamsville South has all the ingredients for a successful boys volleyball season but its top strength is team chemistry.

"They're friends and have been playing together since middle school, which is very important so they know what each can do," said South head coach Thom Knab. "They know each other down to the point that they know how each other reacts and what they will or won't do. They blend together on the court and work well together."

Team chemistry is one of several strengths to this year's senior loaded South roster (nine of 10 players are seniors).

Playing multiple positions is another. Six-foot-four lefty Frank Pieri, a returning ECIC Division II First Team all-star and four-year player, mainly plays right side but also sets. Six-foot-two Spencer McIntyre, also a returning division First Team selection, can play left side or set. Scott Steimer (division Second Team) primarily sets but also hits right side.

"It's something new I'm doing because I have the players to do it," said Knab.

McIntyre and Steimer have played varsity since sophomore year. McIntyre led the team in digs (132 with only 14 errors) and most serving attempts (224 with nine errors). Pieri, McIntyre, and Steimer are captains.

Knab couldn't say enough collectively and individually about his captains.

"They bring a good work ethic," Knab said. "They don't know the

word give up. They each have great court presence and are incredibly smart. They just know what to do when they are on the court."

"Scott has matured a great deal as setter," he continued. "He has a great touch on ball and developed a sense of where to go with it. Frank's always saying 'no pain' meaning 'no pain, no gain' and gets other kids to follow his example. Spencer improved his game a lot too. He's jumping much better and I think is one of the smartest kids on the volleyball court that I've ever coached. He has a good sense of what to do and where to go to support other players."

Pieri and McIntyre, along with senior 6-foot-3 middle hitter Dan Lynch, also played on the same Eden Volleyball Club. Senior Nick Needham (serve/reception specialist with McIntyre, hits left side) played for Panther Volleyball. Senior middle hitter Kevin Cottrell should also start.

Knab said another team strength is that his starting six are all good hitters so his team does not have to rely on one or two players to attack.

Knab thinks reigning two-time New York State Class A champion Hamburg, and Lake Shore, will be the team's toughest competition but feels his team has enough to compete with them.

"We have enough even spread around offense, solid defense and good communication so I think we'll compete very well with them," said Knab.

South finished third in divisional play with an 8-4 record and were 13-7 overall. They lost in four games to Maryvale in the Section VI Class B quarterfinals.
        South 2006 Schedule
9-6 at East ......................... 6 p.m.
9-8 Lake Shore.................. 6 p.m.
9-9 at Clarence Tourn...... 8 a.m.
9-12 Iroquois...................... 6 p.m.
9-14 at Canisius ................ 5 p.m.
9-15 at Niagara-Wheatfield.. 4:30
p.m.
9-18 Clarence .................... 6 p.m.
9-20 Amherst ..................... 6 p.m.
9-22 at W.S. East............... 5 p.m.
9-26 at Hamburg ............... 6 p.m.
9-28 East ............................ 6 p.m.
10-4 at Lake Shore ........... 5 p.m.
10-6 at Iroquois............ 4:30 p.m.
10-7 South Tourn. ............. 8 a.m.
10-10 Canisius ................... 6 p.m.
10-12 at Amherst .............. 6 p.m.
10-16 W.S. East ................. 5 p.m.
10-18 Hamburg.................. 6 p.m.
10-20 at Clarence.............. 6 p.m.
10-23 at Orchard Park ..... 6 p.m.
10-24 North........................ 6 p.m.
10-27 at Maryvale ............. 5 p.m.

*All times are approximate after junior varsity games.

Williamsville North

Max Lipsitz was one of the area's most dominant volleyball players for Williamsville North last year but the graduation of the Penn State University bound middle hitter has made the team more balanced said Spartans head coach Paul O'Connor.

"I have four seniors that have been on my team since they were sophomores," said O'Connor. "It seems that most of the chemistry is still there even without Max. It's impossible to fill those shoes but a lot of these kids were on the team... Our seniors are playing well right now."

Lipsitz was one of only three seniors from last year's 12-8 squad so O'Connor is loaded with returning senior talent. Included in the mix are outside hitters Matt Parisi (6-foot-1) and Josh Siva (5-foot-11), setter Elliot Hoy (5-foot-9) and right side hitter Ryan Young (6-foot-4). Young and Parisi are returning ECIC Division I Second Team all-stars. Parisi and Hoy are captains.

"I expect a lot out of all of them, especially Matt and Josh who will be hitting opposite each other," said O'Connor. "Matt and Josh are very good back row hitters too. This will be Elliott's third year setting so he's got control of the offense and knows what plays we're running."

Other players who should contribute include 6-foot-8 junior middle hitter Justin Miller, who transferred from Colorado last year, and seniors Kevin Hughes (6-foot-2 middle hitter), Ryan Riegel (libero) and C.J. Nocera (right side). O'Connor said Miller be lined up with Young to create a taller front line. All mentioned except Nocera have played club volleyball since last year from Panther Volleyball at Sweet Home.

Junior Drew Moscato transfers back to North after playing the last two years for Canisius. O'Connor said Moscato is a very good defensive player and will play libero and backup at setter.

O'Connor said a team weakness last year was defense and he hopes what he's done in training camp will help.

"All I've been really working on these two weeks is passing and blocking and we just keep working on that, plus five to ten minutes on hitting and 15 minutes on team stuff," said O'Connor. "We're really doing a lot of blocking and defense and it really seems like they're coming along with that."

O'Connor thinks his team's success is going to rely on the outside hitters.

"Definitely Matt and Josh are going to have to get us through some points but Justin and Kevin in the middle are just as dangerous if we have a good pass," he said. "And Ryan Young is always there on the right side and he's our best blocker. He also swings very hard when he gets it sent there."

O'Connor said he likes his team's chances this year in ECIC I because other teams lost significant players and he returns most of last year's nucleus.

"Our division is always tough," he said. "You never know who's going to beat who. There's never one strong team or weak team. Every year there's a team that steps up and really strides itself."

North's season ended last year to two-time New York State Class A champion Hamburg in the Section VI Class A quarterfinals. The Spartans opened at Canisius Tuesday but results were unavailable before The Bee went to press. They host West Seneca West Wednesday.
        North 2006 Schedule
9-6 W.S. West..................... 5 p.m.
9-9 at Ken-Ton Tourn....... 8 a.m.
9-12 Frontier...................... 6 p.m.
9-14 at Orchard Park ....... 6 p.m.
9-20 Lancaster................... 5 p.m.
9-26 at Clarence................ 6 p.m.
9-29 at W.S. West .............. 5 p.m.
9-30 at Sweet Home Tourn. 8 a.m.
10-3 at Sweet Home......... 5 p.m.
10-6 at Frontier................. 5 p.m.
10-7 at South Tourn. ........ 8 a.m.
10-10 Orchard Park.......... 6 p.m.
10-12 at Lancaster ............ 5 p.m.
10-14 at Hamburg Tourn.   8 a.m.
10-16 Sweet Home ........... 6 p.m.
10-18 Clarence .................. 6 p.m.
10-19 Niagara-Wheatfield   5 p.m.
10-24 at South ................... 6 p.m.
  *All times are approximate after
    junior varsity games.
e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com