Balanced Oceanside at 7-1

Winners of seven of its first eight matches, things are going quite well for Oceanside girls’ volleyball.

“We’re having a good season right now,” said coach Rob Kiley. “We have some powerful hitting this year, we have some good defense,”

Oceanside opened with a clean 4-0 record, and Kiley was quick to point out that the strong leadership up top was likely responsible for it, namely setter Mikayla Strung.

“She has a ton of experience, she’s a three-year varsity player,” he explained. “She’s got a welcoming personality, she’s a hard worker, she leads by example, she’s a smart player who runs a very good offense and makes good choices.”

With this being the second year that Oceanside is in Nassau Conference 3, the learning curve has mellowed out.

“Last year we didn’t do so hot, this year with a combination of our veteran players and new faces, it’s kind of helping us get to the head of the pack,” Kiley explained. “[Things like] how to come ahead in the tough moments and how to keep the lead when we have it, how to put teams away when we’re up.”

Kiley mentioned outside hitters Abby Cox and Kendall Quinnones are instrumental to running their fortified offense. “[Quinones] is one of the county leaders in kills,” he explained. “[Cox] plays all the way around, doesn’t leave the court and plays every position. She’s good defensively and offensively.”

So far Cox has tallied 47 kills and 14 service aces, while Quinnones has nearly 100 kills.

Defensively, the Sailors boast the likes of Christina Vlahakis. Kiley described his defensive specialists as consistently aggressive in play.

One of the pleasant surprises of the season for Kiley has been Callie La Personerie, who has more than 100 digs. “She’s won the libero role, that’s a pretty big role on the team for an underclassman to take,” he explained.

With just a few weeks left in the regular season, the thought of playoffs are seeping into the minds of players and coaches at Oceanside.

“I’m hoping we have a push deep into the postseason,” Kiley said, while keeping in mind the importance of what’s left to improve on. “Probably the put-away power, always looking to get better there.

The Sailors’ chemistry is a huge factor in the working together towards their common goal, considering the wide range in age.

“We have all four grades on our team, they bond really well together, they gel well together, they hang out together, it’s a good group,” Kiley explained. “They’re excited to be doing so good, it keeps the energy positive when we’re winning games.”

One of the ways he sees that chemistry manifest itself is via the natural leadership and mentorship between the older and younger players.

“My captains, Abby Cox and Makayla Strong, definitely great mentors,” he said. “Also Maddie Haefner is a good mentor to the underclassmen, she’s always taking kids and showing them [tricks], especially ones that play her position, showing them how to learn the ropes.”

Strong also leads by example, with 145 assists and 39 digs.

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going off of the stats you gave me i have no clue if they’re updated