The J. Taylor Finley Middle School boys’ volleyball team made a splash in its debut, edging visiting West Islip in a best-of-five game match.
Finley is putting a boys’ volleyball team on the court for the first time in many years. Superintendent James W. Polansky spearheaded the program’s return and students rallied around the new team, which has been working hard with head coach Eric Mininni.
Due to a space crunch, Finley practices in the Woodhull Intermediate School gym, so playing at Finley was a new experience for the team. The Finley gym is being utilized after school by the girls’ basketball and wrestling teams, necessitating volleyball’s practice arrangements.
The meet was a seesaw battle. Finley’s five game win played out like this in the score: 14-25, 25-14, 22-25, 25-12 and 25-14. When it was finally over, players, parents and coach celebrated.
“After first game jitters and acclimating ourselves to our home court, we won a crucial second game with great serving from Dylan Michaelson, Spencer James, Andrew Ochoa Islas and John Reyes-Alvarez,” Mininni said. We lost the third game, but stayed close thanks to Caleb Palermo and Lucas Biancardo. We won the fourth game to go to fifth and deciding game. Serving was the key again starting with Dylan, Caleb and Spencer James finishing them off.”
Finley has nine games remaining on its schedule this winter. There will be additional home games with Stimson, Candlewood, Great Hollow and West Islip-Beach. Away games are scheduled with East Northport, Lindenhurst, Central Islip, Northport and West Hollow.
The season wraps up on March 14.