The first round of the Public Schools Athletic League’s boys volleyball playoffs served up few surprises. However, the competition and possibility for upsets is sure to pick up in round two. Here’s a preview of some of the second-round games, which are scheduled for Thursday, May 10th.
No. 1 American Studies vs. No. 17 Francis Lewis
American Studies sophomore Piotr Kasza set up 18 of his team’s 22 kills as the Eagles (11-0) eliminated No. 32
Environmental Studies in round one. Kasza had the fourth-most assists in the PSAL during the regular season. Lewis (11-2) defeated No. 18
Thomas Jefferson to start the playoffs.
Senior Dennis Lee dominated the match with 11 service points, 10 kills and seven digs. Senior Chan Ho Jun, who had the second-most helpers in the league play, put up 21 assists for the Patriots.
No. 5 William C. Bryant vs. No. 21 Townsend Harris
Defending city champion
William Bryant (13-0) ousted No. 28 Louis Brandeis in the first round behind junior Kemal Loppies, who had 15 kills and seven digs, and senior Godwin Sequeira (20 assists).
The Hawks (10-3) think they have an answer. Harris senior Kyung Keun Back dished out 32 assists in the Hawks’ first-round upset of No. 12 Stuyvesant. Senior Adam Ouyang, a force anywhere on the court, had 10 kills and 10 digs in the win. This all-Queens battle could be closer than expected.
No. 7 McKee/Staten Island Tech vs. No. 10 Midwood
Senior Yo Sep Bak put down a team-leading 10 kills to power
Staten Island champion MSIT by No. 26 Math Science in round one. Junior Stephen Leong, who led the team in assists during the regular season, should be a big factor against Midwood as well. The Hornets (9-0) escaped the first round with a thrilling 25-22, 25-23, 31-29 victory over No. 23 Lafayette. Sophomore David Cham had 21 assists for them in the game and will set up Midwood’s offense against the Seagulls (11-0).
No. 8 Hunter College HS vs. No. 9 Susan Wagner
Hunter, the highest seed out of Manhattan, is led by set-up sophomore Peter Mason. He had 22 assists and eight service points in the first round, as the Hawks (13-0) defeated No. 25 Washington Irving. The Hawks will have to contend with senior Jin Nam Ahn and junior Eui Hyun Lee. They lifted the Falcons (9-2) to an easy win in the first round over No. 24 Thomas Edison and led all of Staten Island in assists and kills with 139 and 66, respectively. This one seems destined for three sets.
The rest of second-round schedule:
No. 2 Bronx Science vs. No. 15 Long Island City
No. 3 New Utrecht vs. No. 19 Newcomers
No. 4 Benjamin Cardozo vs. No. 13 Richmond Hill
No. 6 Brooklyn Techncal vs. No. 11 Franklin D. Roosevelt
* All second-round games will be hosted by the higher seeds and begin at 5:00 p.m. EST.
Adam Martini is a freelance sports writer who has reported on New York City high school sports since 2000. He has covered high school basketball, baseball, football and soccer, and prep championship games at Madison Square Garden, Shea Stadium and Yankee Stadium.
Sources
The Official Site of the PSAL
