After an absence of many years, the J. Taylor Finley Middle School boys’ volleyball team has returned and surprised many opponents with its competitiveness.
Earlier this week, Finley defeated Northport, 3-2 after capturing the deciding fifth game. The win hasn’t gone unnoticed. While the team has suffered many growing pains, its multiple wins offer more than a hint of the talent on the roster.
Coached by Eric Mininni, Finley is taking the court for the first time in a long time. The squad is bused to Woodhull Intermediate School after school where it can practice undisturbed in the gym there rather than sharing it with the girls’ basketball and wrestling teams at Finley.
Home matches are played in the Finley gym and live streamed on the Huntington Blue Devil Sports YouTube channel. The squad has gained a nice following of fans.
The roster includes seventh graders Lucas Biancardo, Eric Heinz, Zachary Matthews, Dylan Michaelson and Charlie Stanforth and eighth graders Christ Castillo Martos, Eoin Charles, Kevin Dominguez, Joseph Gilhuley, Spencer James, Jeremyah Leiva, Alvin Luna, Andrew Ochoa Islas, Caleb Palermo, Markis Ponce and John Reyes.
Mininni said the match at Northport was “thrilling and competitive.” Fine serving by Caleb Palermo, Spencer James and John Reyes and outstanding play at the net by Eric Heinz led the way for Finley.
“Joe Gilhuley played great in the front row,” Mininni said. “Jeremyah Leiva and Marcus Ponce made great blocks. There was great back row play by Andrew Ochoa Islas, Charlie Stanforth and Christ Castillo Martos.”
Finley plays at home today against Great Hollow-Blue at 4:30 and then again at home on Monday against West Islip-Beach at 5 p.m.
