Offense sets tone for Oceanside

This fall is Rob Kiley’s first season as coach of the Oceanside girls’ varsity volleyball team, but not his first time coaching its players. Kiley got to work with his current roster of girls during their days on the JV club, where he formerly served as coach. His efforts seem to now be paying off, as his Lady Sailors are 9-2, and have been one of the top teams in Conference AA-2.

“It’s been pretty incredible to see how far our players have come,” Kiley said. “They came to me as little freshmen, and now some of them are leading the league in kills and attacks.”

This year’s Oceanside squad features plenty of skill and depth, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. “We are an offensive powerhouse,” Kiley said. “We have tall girls who hit hard, and are doing a nice job for us. And then we have a bench where everybody is solid from top to bottom.”

One of the team’s biggest standouts has been senior setter Jane Krol. Kiley has been particularly impressed with the way she’s taken charge this season.

“She’s my captain, and is a leader for us on and off the court with her intensity and her high volleyball IQ,” he said. 

Senior middle blocker Kelsey Williams has been another key producer for the Lady Sailors, excelling in all facets of the game. “She’s really hit her stride,” Kiley said. “She’s a presence at the net both offensively and defensively. She keeps us in points and rallies just by her ability to get up and stop the other team from attacking.”

Kiley has also been pleasantly surprised with the rapid development of junior libero Kasey Flavin. “She’s come into this role as a defensive specialist for us, something she never really did as a JV player,” he said. “She’s been an animal on the court. She’s following every play and covering swings and blocks. The whole back of the court is hers and she’s really taken ownership of that role.”

There have been many exciting nights for Oceanside these past few months, but a victory over Farmingdale is the match that sticks with Kiley the most. “We were able to come back from down two sets to one and win,” Kiley said, “Our girls never gave up, even when we were down for the count. It just showed me how much heart they have as a group. It really was fun to be a part of that day.”

Oceanside will likely have a difficult time reaching the playoffs, as only the top finisher in conference earns a postseason berth. But, there is still plenty of motivation for it to finish out the season strong. 

“We have a couple of tough matches coming up,” Kiley said. “We need to play our game. We need to be setting up our front row and attacking. If the girls bring the energy level I saw versus Farmingdale, then we’re unstoppable.”