VOORHEESVILLE — The Voorheesville boys’ volleyball team achieved its second repeat for the second weekend in a row.

This week the Blackbirds defended their regional title by beating Living Word Academy of the Syracuse area for the second consecutive year. Last week, the Blackbirds won their second sectional championship.

It was a bit easier on Saturday, as the Birds won in three games, 25-12, 25-23, 25-15. Last year, Voorheesville beat Living Word Academy in five sets to win the regional title.

The Blackbirds were the first Section II team to win a regional title last year.
"It was a very satisfying way to end the season," said Voorheesville Coach Tom Kurkjian. "I was worried going in because Living Word upset the number-one and number-two seed in their section. I didn’t know what to expect. They had a third-place record but beat good teams in Ilion and Mount Markham. It was an interesting match-up They probably had extra motivation to get back at us after our victory last year."

"Sense of purpose"

Kurkjian said that the team understood the challenge that faced them at the regional match at Westmoreland High School outside of Syracuse.
"I think everybody shared the same sense of purpose," the coach said. "Actually, I’d think it was the best game we’ve ever played as a team. Everybody played within their abilities."
"I expected we would win," Austin Michalski said. "I was still nervous. I was sure it would be a very good bit of volleyball. Last year’s match went to five games and it was such an awesome match."
"It’s a great thing," Adrian Michalski added. "When we won it last year, we knew everyone was coming back and it was possible we could get that far again."
"It’s amazing," Ian Michalski said. "It’s the final piece of a big puzzle. When we were sophomores and freshmen we said, ‘Next year, we can win sectionals and maybe next year we can win regionals.’ But we were able to do it twice."

Adrian Michalski had 12 kills and three blocks for the Blackbirds. Ian Michalski set up a majority of those kills as he had 13 assists and six kills of his own. Austin Michalski, the third triplet, had four kills and seven assists.

Thomas Cavanaugh had seven kills and three blocks in the regional game. The Birds also got good games from John McNally, Mason Junco, and Matt Belgiovine.
"I was a little nervous," Ian Michalski said. "But I’m always nervous before any game. But once I get on the court my nerves calm down. I focus on winning and playing hard. I calm down because I know I have a job to do."

Kurkjian was worried that even though Voorheesville had the lead that Living Word could mount a comeback.
"The team they had was capable of running off some points," the coach said. "Even when we were ahead, 20-13, I was not secure enough to sub outside my top eight. Last year, we won the first two games and then lost one and then lost another one, before we came back in the fifth. We played them until the end."
"This is ours"
"I was watching them warm up," Adrian Michalski said. "I like to see how a team warms up. I get in position to see each team’s players"When we started out strong, I thought ‘This is ours.’ Even though we won in three games, it was amazing volleyball and we played through until the end."
"Before we played," Austin Michalski said, "I was watching them warm. I felt after the first game, that we could win the match in three games."

McNally was given the Sportsmanship Award at the match, the only award given.

The other seniors on the team — Kevin Goss, Austin Saddlemire, and Josh O’Brien — were also big keys for the team, Kurkjian said.
"They didn’t have an MVP or all-star team," Kurkjian said. "But they gave an award for team player and sportsmanship and that went to John McNally."
"We really played well," Austin Michalski said. "Everyone played within themselves. I knew, if we did that, we would win."
"We got a great effort from everybody," Adrian Michalski said. "Tom Cavanaugh had some key hits and Matt Belgiovine and Mason Junco on defense were great and Josh O’Brien had some plays at the net."

Most of the seniors have been on the team for three-and-a-half years, when it was resurrected by Kurkjian and the Michalski triplets. The program had been cut from the budget but the team played a half-season.
"This is certainly something to accomplish," Kurkjian said. "To win back-to-back and we did not lose a single game against competition in our size group."
"Serious about volleyball"
"This shows everybody that we are serious about volleyball," Adrian Michalski said. "We proved it by what we accomplished."

The players are very appreciative of how Kurkjian helped them.
"He knew we had a future," Adrian Michalski said. "We proved it by being successful. He was a great coach along the way. He never cursed us out and was very supportive. He came along with us and wanted to win. That was great."

The team also brought out the fans as they took a shot at another regional title.
"Half the bleachers were filled," Kurkjian said. "The superintendent, the principal, athletic director, parents, and teachers have followed the kids. It was nice to see them take the two-hour drive to see exciting volleyball."

Though their high-school volleyball careers are over, the Michalski triplets continue to practice twice a week with their club team and will play up until July when they wrap that up at the national tournament.

The Michalskis will also be making college preparations.
"It was a nice way to end with a high-level game," Ian Michalski said. "We are starting to take the next step toward college and the play will be at least at that level or higher."

Meanwhile Kurkjian will have a job to do to get more players out for the team as only four players return.
"The thing now is rebuilding with a capital R," Kurkjian said. "When volleyball came up in the 1970’s not any Colonial Council schools had it. And then we went .500 in our half season. We have 12 guys that will be playing for the rest of their lives."