Wednesday, December 11, 2024
The first and last things weren’t a problem; it was that middle part of the club’s three-word motto, “Breathe, Believe, Battle,” that was tricky – requiring more than sheer effort.
For Carey boys’ volleyball coach Keri Doyle, belief in her team’s competitive prowess wasn’t automatic (“Honestly, I had no idea what to expect this year,” she said) - but when it came, just two matches into the schedule, it came to stay, building and bearing out in a breakthrough season.
Making believers of many this autumn with wins against top-ranked teams – including a 3-1 downing Sept. 6 of eventual league champ Lynbrook – Carey can breathe easy, and in rarefied air, ahead of its remaining finale, having battled to a key league win against Manhasset last Saturday.
Led by captains Ewan Byrne and Jack Leimgruber – who had 25 assists and 11 kills, respectively – host Carey climbed to 9-7 overall, 8-7 in Nassau Conference 2D, with a 3-0 win against ‘Set on Oct. 26, ensuring the Seahawks’ first winning season in Doyle’s six-year tenure, while positioning Carey, which wraps its season this week at Academy Charter, to finish .500 or better in league for the first time in a decade.
“I had faith the boys would work hard, but didn’t know how well and how scrappy they’d play as a team,” Doyle said. “They had confidence in themselves, and that’s led to a winning season.”
Getting there, the Seahawks did not take the easy route – notching wins against 2D’s top two teams, Lynbrook and West Hempstead, and punching up at Conference 2C foes Sewanhaka (tied for first place in 2C) and Locust Valley for a pair of straight-sets victories.
Byrne, whose 65 aces rank No. 1 in Nassau, fired a season-high 11 service winners against Sewanhaka. The two-time All-Conference senior setter leads Carey with 367 assists (third in 2D), while Leimgruber – whose 137 kills lead the team – led all scorers with 13 kills in the Seahawks’ win over Lynbrook, a match which cemented Doyle’s belief that this season could be special, she said.
“That was the first time, as a coach, I said, ‘Okay, we’re going to do it. We’re going to compete this year,’” Doyle said. “It showed we could compete with the top teams in the conference. It kind of lit a fire under everyone.”
Added Doyle: “There hasn’t been a game where we’ve looked outmatched. We keep battling. And that’s a good jumping-off point for next year.”
With the exception of Byrne and senior opposite hitter Juann Jennu (33 kills, 23 aces), Carey can expect its whole roster back next season, with libero Anbiy Aftab – team leader with 117 digs – and fellow junior Dylan Lotrean (74 kills) slated to return, along with top underclassmen Matt Bermudez (47 kills), Woitek Yahoves (41 kills) and Chris D’Angelo (27 digs).
“We have a core group that contributed, helping us possibly have our first winning season in division,” said Doyle, not looking past her team’s matchup with Academy. “Our next game means a lot. If we can get to nine wins (in league), it’ll make us want double digits next year.”
