Blue Devil JV Volleyball Surprises Suffolk
The reconstituted Huntington junior varsity boys’ volleyball team finished the season with a 9-6 league mark (10-7 overall) under rookie coach Chris Mooney. After an absence that lasted several years, there was enough player interest to lead school officials to reinstitute the team, which responded by turning in a fine start to a new era.
Captained by sophomore Max Smoller, the squad consisted of seven players from Huntington and one from Harborfields. The two schools fielded joint varsity and JV volleyball teams this year. The Blue Devil contingent also included Jacob Fleisig, Ryan Greenhill, Justin Greenidge, Keith Kirkpatrick, Dan Smith, Hector Vega and David Stillman.
“Justin is the most complete player on the team,” Mooney said. “He expressed a strong interest in playing club volleyball and should grow into a strong varsity player.”
Greenhill and Stillman also show a great deal of promise. “Ryan is the team leader on the court and has become one of the best players,” Mooney said. Greenidge and Greenhill were both called up to the varsity for that team’s playoff meet.
Stillman is an up-and-coming freshman player that figures to play a large role in the Huntington program for the next three years. “David is an exceptional passer and plays volleyball year-round,” Mooney said. “He is the future.”
The Blue Devil volleyball program has struggled for many years, but now appears to be on much more solid footing, with a successful JV team and a talented varsity squad.
“The team is extremely scrappy and full of heart and determination,” Mooney said. “Lacking size, they depended on playing great defense to beat much larger opponents multiple times. They surprised many teams and officials.”
Mooney will have to recreate this year’s magic next fall with an almost entirely new cast. “Most of the team will end up on the varsity,” Mooney said. “The JV will largely consist of new players and upcoming freshmen.”
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