Blackbirds go from one win to no losses
VOORHEESVILLE It was quite the turnaround.
After completing the 2006-07 season with a 1-10 record, the Voorheesville boys’ volleyball team finished this past season with a 9-0 mark in the Central Hudson Valley League and won the league title with its unblemished mark.
“It was a nice surprise,” said Voorheesville Coach Tom Kurkjian. “We were league champs.”
The Blackbirds were seeded third in the Class C Section II playoffs and won their first match of the tournament. The Birds lost in the semifinals to the number-two seed, Coxsackie-Athens.
“The Patroon half was stronger,” Kurkjian said of the other boys’ volleyball league. “They played well against good teams. We were undefeated on our side, but their team was pretty seasoned and we struggled.”
The Blackbirds lost the first two games but came back to win the third game, 26-24. Voorheesville lost in the fourth game and was eliminated from the sectional tournament.
“We could not finish out and win it,” Kurkjian said. “We knew it would be pretty interesting. They were the best team we played this year.”
Improved team
Even with the semifinal loss, it was a superb turnaround for the Blackbirds, who were rebuilding after losing a talented and deep senior class two years ago that featured the Michalski triplets.
“I was most pleased with this season,” Kurkjian said. “It was just one season removed from when all those great seniors left me.”
This year’s team featured just two seniors Jacob Vandervort and Mike Thamsen. Five juniors will return next year Conor Tompkins, Kevin Tesch, Dimitri Solovine, Nathan Bub, and Will Miranda.
Sophomore Garrett Wineinger and freshman R.J. Cave were contributors to this year’s team and will have bigger roles next year.
“Overall, the team improved on the court,” Kurkjian said. “Jake Vandervort was an offensive threat and an outstanding blocker. Sophomore Wineinger is a good setter. He’s an all-around good player.”
And to keep getting better, Kurkjian will have his team play a tougher schedule next winter.
“I told the kids that, if we had a decent record and we get to sectionals this year,” he said, “we’ll go away next Christmas to Vernon-Verona-Sherrill. Their tournament is on Dec. 31 and features a lot of B and C schools. The teams from that area are of a different caliber and it would be good for us to see schools from that area.
“I would like to go out there this year,” Kurkjian said of next season. “They play at a level better than us. That will help us to try and win a sectional title. We get everybody back that is a starter besides Jake. I hope to pull it off.”
“A game bunch”
Kurkjian said that a big reason for the change in success is that the kids have learned the sport and matured on the court.
“The year before, the kids were really new to the sport,” Kurkjian said. “I was tinkering with certain spots. The kids, last year, were learning the dynamics of volleyball and moving on the court.”
The team, Kurkjian said, came together and played as a total team unit.
“I got comments that we were doing the right thing,” Kurkjian said. “The parents that saw our matches said that we are better than last year. We grew as a team together. I hope next year, we’ll get out to Verona and schedule a couple of Patroon teams.”
Kurkjian did not know how this year’s team would play when it first took the court at the beginning of the season in November.
“I didn’t know how the team would be,” Kurkjian said. “Once we got some practice time under our belts. We never folded or played bad. We kept it going. I was surprised we didn’t get beat along the way. They were a game bunch of kids and we had fun.”