After its inaugural year in 2023, the boys’ varsity volleyball team continued to advance in the ranks during the 2024 season. Senior and captain Brady Rogan, along with his teammates, is extremely optimistic for this upcoming season: “I do believe that this team is able to make the playoffs. We have a lot of talent all over the court, and [we] don’t really have any weak spots.”
Coming into its second season, the team has crushed its competition. “Considering it’s only the second year LHS has had [a] men’s volleyball team, our 5-1 record is pretty impressive,” freshman Nolan Pearsall commented. In the team’s home opener, the Owls crushed Manhasset in a quick three set sweep, with senior Joe Woods smashing 14 kills along with five aces, as well as 10 digs from senior libero Angel Andoy.
The boys have made substantial improvements since the dawn of the team. “I’m extremely happy about how the season is going. Last year being the first year of the program, we didn’t get off to a great start. This year seems to be the complete opposite as we are playing great and consistently winning,” Rogan explained.
Coach Charles Appel is certain that the team will step up when needed: “We do have very good depth this year. We have guys that can play multiple positions, are knowledgeable about the game, and can compete at a high level.” Roster depth is a key aspect of every team, as it can give coaches many lineup variations and is a critical part to success. While Appel and the team may have no problem with depth, only six boys play on the court at a time, proving to be both a benefit and disadvantage. “I have a tough time getting everyone in because there are plenty of guys who are capable of making a difference. It’s a good problem for a coach to have,” Appel commented.
In a recent showdown with West Hempstead, the Owls stayed strong and handled the Rams in a 3-1 win. Woods and Andoy held the back row together, combining for a whopping 53 of Lynbrook’s 92 total digs on the day. Along with Woods’ 17 kills, senior and middle hitter Andrew Malinka added 16 of his own in another dominant offensive showing from the front row duo. Rogan assisted on 37 of Lynbrook’s 45 kills en route to the win. “It’s nice to see the results of the hard work everyone has put in when we play in matches,” Rogan shared.
The success of a team has many factors, one of which comes from the leadership shown by the captains. For the Owls, Rogan and Malinka are always pushing the team in practice and at games to try and lead the team towards its first playoff appearance in program history. “I’m always trying to tell the team that we have what it takes to win, but we just need to execute. A lot of times we beat ourselves [up], which gets us out of our groove. As long as we are staying focused and communicating, we will succeed,” Malinka said.
For reference, the Owls are in Conference 2D, which is extremely competitive. Only two teams from this conference will make the playoffs, but Appel has no doubt that the team will show up when times get tough: “There are plenty of good teams, but the guys are always up for the challenge.”
As with any multi-grade dynamic, the upperclassmen have made a lasting impact on the younger players. “…I feel like working with upperclassmen has helped with my work ethic in staying positive in low times in the game, and that they have the knowledge that you can learn and teach others,” Pearsall reflected.
The stats of each game serve as evidence of improvement. “We plan to put Lynbrook boys’ volleyball on the map this year and continue to build the program into something very special,” Appel shared.
The Owls have worked hard for their success in practice and continue to do so as the season progresses. From summer workouts on the beach, to team-building activities, the boys really feel they have become a big family. “This team has grown quite close the past two years. In fact, our team chant is ‘family,’” Appel remarked. Additionally, he feels that no one player is above the team and the boys’ relationships off the court have bolstered their on-court chemistry to ultimately push the team to victory. “We know we will control our own destiny because of our ability, size, and team chemistry,” Appel explained.
Working hard in practice is essential to have good outcomes in matches, but ultimately, having fun when playing a sport truly shows that confidence and is also a way to make practice enjoyable. “[Andrew and I] are always trying to make both our teammates and ourselves better every day in practice. We try to make sure that everybody is working hard while also having fun,” Rogan said.
