Rams serving up victories

West Hempstead is enjoying another strong season on the volleyball court. After advancing to the Nassau Class B quarterfinals in 2011, where the Rams fell in five sets to Jericho, they’re off to an 8-3 start in Conference III.

In a sweep of Long Beach on Oct. 11, senior captain Eric Finkelstein had 25 assists, while junior Darren Davy added eight kills and three blocks to lead the Rams to their third win in their past four matches.  

Head coach Andrew Wilson likes the makeup of his team. “We have talented guys who can do a lot of good things on the court,” Wilson said. “It really depends on the day of the week in terms of who is going to shine that day. We need to continue doing what we do well, and get better in the areas where we need to improve. Taking care of the ball is essential.”

One player who seems to shine each time he takes the court is Finkelstein. The senior setter, who had a season-high 36 assists in a victory over Lawrence, leads the team in helpers by a wide margin. 

Wilson knows he has a special player in Finkelstein. “Eric never ceases to amaze me,” Wilson said. “He does everything well, and has all of the intangibles. Eric never stops hustling, and he has tremendous reflexes and instincts. He does a terrific job of putting teammates in position to be successful.”

Senior outside hitter Chris McAvoy is one of those teammates. McAvoy is a tremendous athlete who hits and passes well, and does a great job defending. He had nine kills in the win over Lawrence. Senior Tom Wood, who had 19 kills in the Lawrence match, has been consistent at outside hitter all season long.

Blocking has been one of the keys to West Hempstead’s success. The tandem of senior Liam Donovan and Davy, the team leader in blocks, has been tremendous at middle hitter/blocker for the Rams. Donovan had five kills and five blocks in the sweep of Long Beach.

One of West Hempstead’s most improved players is Vinny DiGiovanni. The junior libero is a hard-working player who keeps getting better. Senior Terry Oh is a good passer and solid defender. Oh’s versatility allows him to play multiple positions.

Sophomore Bryce Cohen has been solid at right side hitter, but has ability to play all over the court. Seniors Anthony Sookiasian and John Padoginog, and junior Chris Gabayan give the Rams depth. Wilson refers to senior Phil Treglia as a tremendous teammate, and the team’s unsung hero. Rounding out the roster are juniors Tom Smith and Aidan Grace.  

Wilson is hopeful the Rams will finish strong. “If we continue to get contributions from everyone, and we improve in areas that need work, we’ll be competitive with anyone,” Wilson said. “It’s like all other sports. On any given day, anyone can win.”

The Rams visit Bethpage this Friday at 5:30 p.m.