Scrappy Valley Stream South at 5-3

Valley Stream South boys’ volleyball started the season as hot as any team could want, with a 5-0 record. Since Sept. 15, when the Falcons won a marathon five-set match against Carey, they’ve dropped three straight.

There’s plenty of time to snap the recent skid, considering just about every match has been competitive.

“We had Garden City up two sets to zero and then we had some breaks not go our way,” VSS coach Rich Hess said of the Sept. 18 battle. “So, credit Garden City for making an adjustment. We had success in the beginning with their height, and then they started double-teaming our guy and we just didn’t have answers. But, we’re scrappy.”

“Scrappy” is a term Hess uses a lot. His front row averages 5-foot-9, but by just looking at the stats, they’ve competed with every opponent despite the height differential.

“To my guy’s credit, they battle,” Hess said. “My team will compete. So, what we had was execution issues, but never effort issues.”

Junior outside hitter and captain Leo Rodriguez not only makes an impact as a leader for Hess’ program, but he’s ranked No. 14 in the county in kills with 117. He had a season-high 20 kills against Floral Park Sept. 6 and Oyster Bay Sept. 20. Rodriguez is also fifth in the county digs with 141. He had a season-high of 27 against Oyster Bay.

“He’s just a fantastic leader,” Hess said of Rodriguez. “The kids really gravitate toward his knowledge and his love for the game and we can’t afford to rest him; he plays every set. He’s our main offensive threat. Leo has been a tremendous addition not only with his digs, but he and [sophomore defensive specialist] Elijah Daitol have 15 aces from the service line.”

Sophomore libero Noah Jackson helps Rodriguez, as he’s seventh in Nassau in digs with 129. Jackson notched a season-high 30 digs against Floral Park.

“With Noah and Leo on the floor, both of those kids can cover some real ground,” Hess said. “So, that’s helping us in game where last year we went 2-17 and we didn’t have that.”

Senior middle Aaden Gamatero is top 10 in the county in blocks with 35, as well as one of three captains. “This is another kid that’s been around for a while,” Hess said. “He’s a club volleyball kid. He plays smart in the middle, real smart, knows the game. Instinctual. He turns some of them [blocks] into block kills, too. He’s not only blocking the ball, but sometimes he’s blocking the ball that’s going down for the kill.”

Setter Gabe Sukhu hasn’t gone unnoticed. The senior has recorded 209 assists, which is ranked No. 16 in the county. In an important victory over Carey, he notched 33 assists, which was a season-high.

Captain and junior outside hitter Jaxson Hunter has made an impact for the 5-3 Falcons, but in a way that hasn’t shown up in the stat sheet. He brings a ton of experience and “seems to come up with a big serve when we need it,” Hess said.

Senior Landon Lanoix and junior Matthew Greene are both contributing on the right side.