Hewlett winners of 12 straight

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After a difficult one-year stay in Nassau B-I boys’ volleyball, Hewlett is trying to lock down its second Conference B-III title in three seasons.

The Bulldogs, who were unable to win a match in 2015, ripped off 12 consecutive victories out of the gate before their perfect run ended on Columbus Day with a three-game sweep at the hands of B-I frontrunner Hicksville. Still, they held a comfortable lead over second-place Valley Stream North in the chase for the B-III crown with five matches remaining.

“Hopefully we step it up after the loss and get back on track,” Hewlett coach Monique Ciccarelli said. “It’s such a great group of young men. Last year was rough, but we only graduated two starters and our chemistry is very good.”

Confidence is high, also, Ciccarelli said, and took shape immediately after the Bulldogs outlasted Valley Stream North in the season opener in five sets. Hewlett won the first two sets, dropped the next two, and eventually prevailed in the decisive fifth set 25-15. “The guys are focused and trusting each other, and that began with the first match,” Ciccarelli said. “It’s like, they knew they could do it and went out and proved it.”

Hewlett also took five-set matches against Uniondale and Clarke, the top team in A-III, in September as part of its major turnaround from a year ago. The lineup is rather familiar, the coach said, but some spots are determined by how well someone performs in warmups. “They know I’m watching warmups closely,” Ciccarelli said.

Seniors captains James Silberger and Brandon Kamiker are leading the Bulldogs’ charge.

Silberger controls the court, Ciccarelli said, and leads the team in aces with 52 to go along with 60 kills, many of which have come over the season’s second half. The southpaw opposite setter was a defensive standout — libero — on Hewlett’s conference-winning team in 2014. “He has a float serve and also a powerful one that he mixes in,” Ciccarelli said. “He sees the whole court and communicates well with everyone.”

Kamiker, an outside hitter, leads the way in kills with 109. “He’s an all-around player who hits with power and makes amazing passes,” Ciccarelli said.

Junior setter David Silverman, one of the JV leaders a year ago, is helping the offense tick as the second setter. He contributes a lot in the back row. “David’s doing a nice job and still adjusting to the faster pace of varsity volleyball,” Ciccarelli said.

Senior Charlie Graber is another hard hitter on the outside who ranks among the team leaders in aces and kills. In the middle, seniors Daniel Mizrahi, who missed most of last season due to injury, and Isaac Bakis are consistent and scrappy. Senior Jason Badu and junior Alex Abad make their presence felt in the front row when called upon.

Defensively, senior Joe Korin sets the tone as a dynamic serve-receiver. “He’s a big key to our success,” Ciccarelli said. “He’s all over the court.” Junior Justin Fliegel provides a defensive spark as well.