Thursday, October 1, 2026
Uniondale boys’ volleyball is using a challenging Conference 1B schedule to prepare for a promising future. Coach Nolan Dunkley said he has taken time during matches to instruct students first, prioritizing long-term preparation over immediate results.
With a 4-9 record so far, the Knights might not be contending for a playoff berth, but with only two seniors graduating and 10 juniors stepping up to replace them, time spent on the court has invariably been time well spent. It is not uncommon for Dunkley to change formations and personnel, even in close games, as he gradually works toward what he refers to as the “perfect transition.”
“You’re going to see us go back and forth in certain sets in certain games, that I'm gonna go from a 5-1 to 6-2, and it's not beause we're doing bad,” Dunkley said. “I want to get those guys that chemistry now, playing against those teams to get that tempo.”
In a match against Freeport on Oct. 9, Uniondale lost its third straight in jeartbreaking fashion, taking two of the first three sets before dropping both of the last two. Even in that loss, however, Dunkley continued preparing for a key positional shuffle that will redefine the Knights moving forward.
Andy Sorto, the setter, is one of two seniors who will soon graduate. In any given match, the Knights may rack up kills from as many as five players, but assists are often coming from one source.
Sorto has been so versatile and effective on the back row that Dunkley has had to tell him to begin asking for help instead of making athletic attempts on certain balls.
“If you're going after everything, they're not going to know what a bad pass is,” Dunkley said.
The setter’s singlehanded ability to keep plays alive has been integral to Uniondale’s four victories. In a 3-1 win over Oceanside on Sept. 29, he earned 31 assists in a game Dunkley referred to as a promising team effort.
Just as he has tried to prevent his setter from masking his teammates’ bad habits, Dunkley must also find a way to replace Sorto soon. As a result, he has given junior libero Randdy Acosta more time as a setter, allowing him to better prepare for the positional transition in the coming year.
“That’s why I've been mixing it up,” Dunkley said. “I don't want Randy to play libero this whole year and then hand him the keys to being the setter without the reps.”
Junior Kevin Yanes is expected to step into Acosta’s role as libero and is also being worked into the scheme in a similar manner.
While the back row gradually evolves, Uniondale’s attack at the net has been quickly improving. Junior Jared Thompson leads a group of five hitters, along with Amir Shabazz, Allan Rodriguez, Ethan Davidson, and Jose Top Rivas, who will remain united next year.
When Dunkley first took over the program more than a decade ago, his girlfriend was the only one in the stands. The Knights now play in front of crowded bleachers and host events to promote volleyball within the community. It has been a triumph in Dunkley’s tenure that the sport has grown to this point, and wins and losses only play a part in making such an impact.
