Syracuse, N.Y. — Several Section III boys and girls volleyball teams are buoyed by athletes whose contributions are often hard to quantify but would be hard to replace.
Syracuse.com polled CNY coaches as to who are the unsung heroes of their teams. Here are the responses we received.
Boys
Noah Bangson, Liverpool, middle blocker/defensive specialist, senior
“Having such a young roster this year with only a couple of seniors, it was important that we had someone who would step in and set the example for all our younger players. Noah has filled that role to a tee. From his relentless hustle day in and day out in practice to his consistently positive demeanor on the sidelines or in games, to his unwavering level of respect he shows to players, coaches, and officials, Noah is the perfect role model to every player in our program.
“Noah consistently fills in at any position we need at practice, isn’t afraid to simulate any opposing player in game prep, and most recently, Noah has provided sparks to the team in games not only at his natural position but in a brand new position for him at defensive specialist when the team was in need. This display of a team-first attitude, especially by a senior, is exactly why Noah is so incredibly important to our program and is without a doubt our unsung hero.” — Mike McIntosh
Rocco Cambareri, East Syracuse Minoa, middle blocker, senior
“Rocco does a little of everything for the ESM varsity volleyball team. He currently leads the teams in blocks, (is) third on the team in kills and is third on the team in aces. But more importantly, he has been a mentor throughout the season for our very young varsity volleyball team. With four sophomores and four juniors, Rocco has helped these players find their way, helped acclimate the players to varsity volleyball and continues to stay patient and positive with each of them. Rocco will be leaving behind very big shoes to fill next fall, not only as a player but as a captain as well.” — Alex Rybczak
Elijah Centolella, Jamesville-DeWitt
“Eli tore his ACL during the volleyball season last year but has still been a huge part of our program. He has had some injury problems this season as well but even while injured, Eli always shows up to practices, games and even showed up to offseason training to be a part of the team and help everyone out in any way he can. Whether it is shagging balls, keeping score or just being a great teammate,, Eli always does what he can to help the team. Eli is the embodiment of what it means to be a J-D volleyball player.” — Jake Cline
Dylan Fournier, senior, Liam Sprague, sophomore, Cicero North Syracuse
“Both projected starters, at setter and libero, suffered major injuries in the off-season and have not competed the entire season but that does not mean their presence has not been felt. Dylan is there every day at practice shagging balls and keeping score during simulated games and Liam is our statistician for both home and away matches. During the matches, Dylan charts and calls out serving tendencies and ball flights for our serve receivers. Without them, I don’t know where we would be this season and if I feel anyone is pouting for selfish reasons, I just point at these two and say, ‘These guys have not played one point this season and yet they are here to help the team.’” — Mike Lucia
Nate Houck, Fayetteville-Manlius, outside hitter, senior
“Nate is an undersized outside hitter finding success in our very competitive league. He is a tireless worker in practice and a great role model for our younger players. Nate is a key element in our serve receive and an excellent defender, which doesn’t always show up in the box score. He is often sprawled on the floor, keeping points alive on our side. While on offense, he is great at identifying blockers and then either hitting around the block or off the hands for points. Nate may not lead our team in kills, but he is a main reason we are having success this year.” — Chris Gangloff
Girls
Molly Douglas, Danica Oppenheimer, Chittenango, setters
“Molly and Danica are an essential part of our court. The way they communicate and conduct the flow of the game is so important and often goes unnoticed. Their determination and energy bring a lot of motivation and community to our matches.” — Gabby Giblin
Amanda Johnson, LaFayette, outside hitter, junior
“(She) was injured the first day after tryouts and missed six weeks. During that time, she was at practice helping out as our ‘bonus coach,’ which has been invaluable. We have a young team with a lack of varsity experience this season, and having a returning player such as Mandy show up every day with a positive attitude and putting in whatever work she can while she is injured is a great model for the others in our program. She brings a lot of energy and encouragement to every practice and match, and leads by example.” — Matthew Fuller
Madilynn Miller, Onondaga, defensive specialist, senior
“She is looked up to by all of the kids in the program, JV and varsity. She has a very settling, comforting style about her. Maddy is very coachable, works hard to improve her game and those around her. She’s battled through a couple of injuries that slowed her progress down a wee bit. She was also selected as the homecoming queen this year.” — James Tuck
Izzy Morrell, West Genesee, defensive specialist, senior
“She is a talented defensive specialist who is a big piece of our defense. You don’t see her name on the stat sheet other than serves and digs. Our team, however, knows the value of Izzy because they picked her as a captain. Defensive specialists seldom get the recognition they deserve but without them, we don’t win. Izzy quietly does her job without any expectation for something in return. She has worked extremely hard to achieve her success and we are lucky to have her.” — Carrie Corley
Paige Munger, Cicero-North Syracuse, libero, senior
“Paige is our libero this year and did not start last season, but she has stepped into her role with incredible poise and consistency. She is truly the glue that holds our team together — always smiling, always positive and always dependable. It may seem like a small thing, but Paige has never had an ‘off’ day. And if she ever does, no one would know it. She is a steady presence who lifts others up, takes accountability for her mistakes, and leads by example every time she steps on the court. She’s a fierce competitor, but an even greater supporter of her teammates. The intangibles she brings — paired with her outstanding serve, receive and defensive skills — keep us in every match. Even though she doesn’t get the kills that show up on the stat sheet, Paige’s humility and selflessness shine brighter than any number. She embodies what it means to be a true team player." — Alicia Nash
Maddy Richer, Marcellus, defensive specialist, senior
“There is no way to express how important Maddy Richer has been to our team defense. She has been the team’s DS for our right side hitter. Only playing the back row means she will not fill up the stat sheet, but has been irreplaceable in that spot, making a number of big digs that we can turn to our advantage.”— Ted Hile
Celia Rogers, Skaneateles, outside hitter, senior
“While she is out on the court for nearly every play and has plenty of very solid stats, what she brings to our team can’t really be quantified. She is knowledgeable, driven, kind and is the ultimate teammate and leader. Celia is our floor captain and is the one who communicates with the refs. Recently, we had a game that Celia couldn’t play in because she was sick, and if you could have seen the panic and plans to try to duplicate what she brings, you would quickly realize how incredibly important she is to the team in so many different aspects and that she’s the real unsung hero.” — Dan Mulroy
Kara Young, Jordan-Elbridge, outside hitter, junior
“Kara suffered an ankle injury in the season’s second match, which sidelined her from the starting lineup. Although she hasn’t played much since her return, she continues to support and cheer for the team from the sidelines. The team hopes to have Kara back on the court in the next few games so they can show her the same support she’s shown her teammates.” — Robin Smart
