Spartans big up the middle
Boys volleyball
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville North will try to overcome losing five key starters from last year's team with a large presence in the middle of the lineup.

Spartans' head coach Paul O'Connor could have 6-foot-8 senior Justin Miller, 6-foot-4 Jack Jagodzinski and 6-foot-4 junior Erin Dindurski all in the front row at the same time.

"Hopefully, other teams will look at that and fear trying to hit over the net," said O'Connor. "We should be able to get some kind of hit back and then have all three hit."

Miller has been on the team since his sophomore year and started as a junior. Miller, who might also hit on the right side, has a huge wingspan.

"He can get all of his fingers over the net without going on his tippy toes," said O'Connor. "He hits a lot higher than the net. He doesn't have to do much to make a block, but he has to keep working on his coordination."

O'Connor is hoping Miller can dominate at slamming balls down for kills.

"This is the first year since I have been head coach where I don't have a dominant player in that area, so that's what I am hoping Miller can do consistently for us," he said.

O'Connor likes Jagodzinski's court vision and his blocking ability. Dindurski, a left-hander, can also play the right side on the outside.

O'Connor is also looking for good plays from senior outside hitters Matt Antalik and Joe Greenwald and senior captain Drew Moscato, who moves from the starting libero to setter.

"He puts the balls right where they're supposed to be," said O'Connor of Moscato. "He also has shown good leadership skills."

North had its season opener at Williamsville South on Tuesday, but results were unavailable before The Bee went to press. They host Sweet Home on Friday before competing in the Clarence Tournament on Saturday. They have also entered in the Williamsville South tournament, which they have won five out of the last six years, and the Sweet Home tournament, in which they placed third last year.

North finished 14-10 overall and 5-5 in ECIC Division I. They swept Grand Island in three games in a Section VI Class A prequarterfinal before getting swept by state champion Lancaster in the quarterfinals.

"We did fairly well last year," said O'Connor. "We beat Orchard Park in a nonleague game and split with Frontier. We have to be more consistent with hitting balls down and scoring down for points instead of waiting for the other team to miss a serve or touch the net or hit the ball."
North 2007 Schedule
9-7 Sweet Home ............... 5 p.m.
9-8 Clarence tourn. .......... 9 a.m.
9-10 Orchard Park............ 5 p.m.
9-11 at Frontier................. 5 p.m.
9-18 Lancaster................... 5 p.m.
9-20 at Clarence................ 6 p.m.
9-26 W.S. West................... 5 p.m.

9-28 at Orchard Park ....... 6 p.m.
9-29 at Sweet Home tourn. 9 a.m.
10-1 Depew........................ 5 p.m.
10-2 Frontier...................... 5 p.m.
10-4 at Sweet Home......... 5 p.m.
10-5 at W.S. East............... 5 p.m.
10-6 at South tourn. ......... 9 a.m.
10-10 at Lancaster ............ 5 p.m.
10-12 Clarence .................. 5 p.m.
10-18 at W.S. West ............ 5 p.m.
10-22 at St. Joe's............... 5 p.m.
10-23 South........................ 5 p.m.
10-25 East .......................... 5 p.m.
*JV times listed, varsity follows
unless otherwise noted.
e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com