Sailors seek playoff success

Oceanside won’t be carrying any momentum into the Nassau Class AA boys’ volleyball playoffs after losing its last four Conference I matches, but coach Chris Harkins likes the idea of having four full days of practice before the Sailors host a to-be-determined opponent in Thursday’s opening round.

“Hopefully we’ll go into the playoffs with a chip on our shoulder,” Harkins said after Oceanside lost in five sets last Friday at Farmingdale to finish the regular season with a 5-11 mark. “We’re lucky we have time before the playoffs to work out kinks in our passing game and maybe experiment with players in different spots.”

Harkins said the Sailors were “upset” with the 18-25, 25-20, 24-26, 25-13, 25-27 marathon loss to the struggling Dalers and eager for a fresh start. Farmingdale got 25 kills from Pierre St. Simon and 24 assists from Matt DiCarlo. “It was a tough one,” Harkins said. “We were a little jetlagged off the bus and never really played our game. We had trouble serving and with serve receive, and they made some great digs.”

It was the third time in the last five matches Oceanside went five sets with an opponent. It split the previous two, losing 25-21 in the decisive set to Syosset Oct. 21 after winning the finale, 25-22, at Uniondale two days earlier. Sophomore setter Tim Carey, who leads the Sailors in assists and service aces, had 27 assists and 13 digs against Uniondale.

“Tim has a tremendous serve, great hands and is quick to the ball,” Harkins said. “He gained valuable experience last year. He’s a solid all-around player and knows where to put the ball to give us the best chance to win a point.”

Junior Hunter Sabety is the team’s go-to hitter in the front row. He’s 6-foot-5 and also possesses excellent leaping ability. He belted 32 kills in a win over Uniondale in the first meeting, which also went the full five sets, and had 21 kills to lead a sweep of East Meadow. “He might be one of the best middle hitters in the county,” Harkins said.