Boys Volleyball
North dominates South tournament, Parisi named MVP
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville North's varsity boys volleyball team won the Williamsville South Tournament last Saturday for the fourth time in six years. Members of the team, pictured from left, are: first row - Elliot Hoy, coach Paul O'Connor, Josh Siva, Alex Stoler, Matt Parisi, Ryan Regal, Mike Burns; second row - Joe Greenwald, Drew Moscoto, Ryan Young, Justim Miller, Matt Antalek, Nick Hereth, and Jack Kajdasz.

Williamsville North has owned the Williamsville South Tournament in recent years and the trend continued last Saturday.

The Spartans won the tournament for the fourth time in six years, defeating host team Williamsville South, 25-19, 26-24, in the finals. North defeated Williamsville East, 25-21, 25-12 while South beat Maryvale, 19-25, 25-12, 28-26, in the semifinals. North and South each went 5-1 in pool play but the Spartans were the top seed because they beat South. South has never won its own tournament, now in its fifteenth year.

"It was great," said North coach Paul O'Connor. "It seems like Williamsville South and us are, not meeting in the finals, meeting in the semifinals. For some reason, my kids really get up for that tournament."

EXTENSION - Williamsville East's Justin Andreozzi looks to block Williamsville North's Matt Parisi during pool play at Saturday's Williamsville South Tournament. East lost 21-25, 12-25 to Williamsville North in the semifinals. Andreozzi and Andy Heim were named to the all-tournament team. Photo by Joe Eberle

O'Connor thought the difference for his team was the play of outside hitters Matt Parisi and Josh Siva, who played poorly in league losses earlier in the week to Sweet Home (23-25, 20-25) and Frontier (22-25, 21-25). Parisi was named tournament MVP; Siva made the all-tournament team.

"Those two really put us over the edge with their hitting on the outside," said O'Connor. "In crunch time in the semifinals and finals but especially in the finals, Matt and Josh got points on kills that we really needed. They really set up our middles, Justin Miller and Kevin Hughes, who also had a good day."

North's ability to kill the ball also helped in the finals. "South strives on defense but

doesn't strive to put the ball down," said O'Connor. "They do have some outside hitters, like lefty Frank Pieri but they don't always kill it. I teach my kids you have to be able to put the ball down."

South coach Thom Knab said North's passing was the difference.

"We performed well but towards the end we struggled a little bit with our passing," said Knab. "I'm not sure why but it's one of those things we need to work on and get it back to where it needs to be."

South's Spencer McIntyre and Scott Steimer were named to the all-tournament team.

"Scott brought great setting as well as his great hitting on the outside for us," said Knab. "Even when we were struggling with our passing, he did a really good job of getting the sets where they needed to be. Spencer was motivated out there and kept the team going."

Knab also lauded the play of right outside hitter Frank Pieri.

North played Orchard Park Tuesday but results were not available before The Bee went to press. They travel to Lancaster on Thursday.

"We really have to play defense and block," said O'Connor. "If our outside hitters can hit like they did Saturday, I feel like we have a chance. We weren't that far behind in both matches the last time."

North also hosts Niagara Wheatfield on Wednesday.

South is 9-3 overall. Its league wins have come over Williamsville East and Iroquois twice, West Seneca East, and Amherst as well as a huge 27-25, 26-24 road victory last Wednesday over No. 6 Lake Shore. Lake Shore won the earlier meeting. Knab said his team trailed 23-18 in the first game before coming back to win.

"We displayed good court coverage and defense," said Knab. "We hadn't beaten Lake Shore in quite a few years. It was very competitive and close the whole game."

The win improved South's ECIC Division II record to 7-2 and is tied with Lake Shore for second place.

South has also beaten Clarence and Niagara-Wheatfield in non-league matches. Other losses have been to Canisius and Hamburg.

South also won the silver division of the Clarence Tournament on Sept. 9, defeating St. Francis, 30-18, then Clarence 20-28 in the finals.

South hosted Canisius Tuesday but results were unavailable before The Bee went to press. They host Amherst at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com