Oceanside in conference driver's seat

Seeds were sown two years ago when Oceanside augmented its volleyball system by adding a boys’ JV squad. Now, in the autumn of 2019, comes the harvest.
Slashing and burning through Conference A-2, the Sailors are 8-0 just past the season’s midpoint – their best-ever start under 11th-year coach Chris Harkins, who asserted his club’s unprecedented run can be traced to JV seasoning.
“These kids have been part of a successful program since they started, getting the chance to play together for four years,” Harkins said. “Everyone has learned where they need to be and what they have to do. The kids are very familiar with each other and play off each other well.”
Harkins’ claims would seem borne out in the county-topping performance of Oceanside’s senior offensive tandem of outside hitter Antonio Valenti (No. 3 in Nassau with 118 kills) and setter Stephen DeStefani (No. 1 with 261 assists) – products, along with the entire team, of Oceanside JV.
“Antonio’s carrying on from last year,” Harkins said of the A-2 kills leader. “He’s a big, intelligent, athletic outside hitter who never comes out of the game. Stephen DeStefani has really taken on a leadership role. His athleticism is helping us make a lot of plays this year.”

Senior right-side wing Sean Famularo has also pitched in on the playmaking, sitting behind conference leader Valenti at No. 2 in A-2 with 60 kills, while weaponizing Oceanside’s service with 15 aces (second in A-2.) “Sean has probably the most well-rounded game of anyone on the team,” Harkins said. “It’s great that he can serve for points.”
Middle Blocker Jack Williams leads the Sailors with 11 blocks, while fellow senior Thomas Early (10 aces, No. 2 in A-2) is pacing the club with 14 digs, with outside hitter Ethan Chetkoff (senior) singled out by Harkins as the team’s all-purpose catalyst. “Jack has turned into a dominant force as a blocker,” Harkins said. “He holds down the middle of the court for us. Thomas is our vocal leader. Ethan is our pace-setter. He seems to do the right thing at all times.”
Apart from minor lapses in two early-season 3-1 wins, Oceanside has been so locked-in that it hasn’t even dropped a set, winning six of its matches – including the past five – by shutout. After failing to make the playoffs last season at 7-7 in A-2, the Sailors seem to have fully shaken off any humbling that may have occurred.
“The guys kind of have a swagger about them,” Harkins said. “They’re confident that even if they get down by a few points, if they do the right things over and over again, they’ll eventually beat the other team. They feel every time they walk on the court that they shouldn’t be beaten by anyone.”
Only division title winners will advance to the postseason. Seeking to cap its playoff drought at one year, Oceanside holds a 2.5 match lead over second-place East Meadow (5-2), with seven contests left for both teams.