Academy News Issue. 03

ACADEMY NEWS
Issue 03

In this Issue:

WE GET TO... Get Back To Competition

Over the past two weekends our ACAD Boys Teams (18 Red, 17 Red, 17 Blue, 16 Red and 15 Red) took to the court in the new DezyStrong-inspired uniforms.

It was great to see all of our boys’ teams back on the court for the first time in just about a year. We know i We look forward to seeing our teams back on the court as the season continues.

Three ACAD Alumni Named as Captains at Iona

At Academy we are incredibly proud of all of our alumni. We are proud of the players they have grown to be, but more importantly to us we are proud of the young men and women they have become.

This week we are highlighting former players Jaime Smith, Taylor Cole, and Allie Brady. These three young women were named captains of the Iona College Women’s Volleyball Team for the upcoming season.

Way to go ladies!!!

Jamie Smith was also named to the Pre-Season First Team All-MAAC!!

Academy Tournament Roadmap Update

  • Over the next 2/3 weekends we will be able to send all of our girls teams to a local tournament.

  • You will get more information about date/location from your team coaches.

  • We will be asking about player commitments for NEQ in the next week or so as we will be needing at least 10 players per team before a commitment to the tournament is made.

  • Tournament fees will be different for each event and will be separate costs to monthly training tuition.

  • On March 7th there will be another meeting with club administration where we begin to lay out the tournament road map for April-June.

  • We will be running our LiveStream program at any events for people who aren’t able to spectate in person.

  • Where hotels are involved, players will be staying with their parents and hotels must be booked through the “stay to play” system.

  • Rules for spectators will be site specific

  • With respect to the potential conflicts with the high school season we will be leaving all decisions up to players and families. While we would love to have our athletes at all events, we understand that may not always be possible. There will be no penalty for any Academy athlete who chooses to miss an event due to a conflict with their high school volleyball schedule.

We are VERY excited to be able to get our teams out on the court. We must continue to be diligent when it comes to our own safety both on and off the court. Please continue to follow all local guidelines and make good decisions. This roadmap is a good start, but we need the local numbers to continue in the direction they are currently on to continue.

Previous Issues of the Academy News:

Issue 01

Issue 02

Rick Cole is the 2020 GEVA/AVCA Boys Coach of the Year!

Coach Rick and the 2020 Southwest Classic Tournament Champs - Boys 18 Red!

On behalf of all of us at Academy Volleyball, we are extremely proud to announce that Coach Rick Cole has been named the 2020 GEVA/AVCA Boys Coach of the Year.

The consummate “giver”, Coach Rick has helped countless athletes reach their potential throughout his coaching career. Over the course of his career, he’s helped almost 350 athletes fulfill their dreams of playing at the NCAA level (and beyond).

For 2020, not only has Coach Rick helped the Boys 18 Red team win the Southwest Classic in Dallas, Texas and earn a bid to the USA Volleyball Boys National Championships, but he also helped them off the court as well with countless hours reviewing game and practice video, and making important contacts at the collegiate level.

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Coach Rick took a leadership position, along with Coach Christian Smith, in continuing to meet as a team via Zoom meetings. He helped keep the boys mentally sharp through video sessions and used the unfortunate circumstance as a teachable moment with lessons that the boys will be able to lean on for a long, long time.

We are so proud to have Coach Rick on our staff. Please join us in congratulating him on this outstanding recognition by GEVA and the AVCA.

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Academy Coaches & Former Players Win ECC Championship at Molloy College

Congratulations to former Academy players as well as current Academy coaches as they won the East Coast Conference (ECC) Championships over Bridgeport University. The team will now advance to the NCAA DII East Regional Tournament. Please join us in congratulating:

  • Kacey Affrunti

  • Jessica Fischetti

  • Chye Davis

  • Hailey Wehr

  • Alexa Morgan

  • Kat Doherty

  • Kat Verastegui

  • Kevin DesLauriers (HC)

To read more, please click here.

Former Academy Player, Katie Wood, Named Setter of the Year

Academy Volleyball is proud to announce that former Academy player, Katie Wood, has been named the Atlantic-10 Conference’ Setter of the Year.

Katie is a Senior at LaSalle University (NCAA DI) and, in addition to being named Setter of the Year, has also been named to the Atlantic-10 Conference’ First-Team All-Conference Team.

Katie led the A-10 conference with 10.56 assists per set (second straight year) as well as total assists 1,035 (third straight year).

Please join us in congratulating Katie on her Senior-year achievements.

Academy Coaches Represent in East Coast Conference Collegiate Awards!

Academy Volleyball is happy to announce that Academy Girls Coaches, currently playing collegiate volleyball at Molloy College, have earned East Coast Conference honors. We’re also excited to announce that Academy Coach and Head Director, Kevin DesLauriers, has been named ECC Coach of the Year. - his second in three seasons.

The Academy girls coaches accolades include the following impressive list:

  • Kacey Affrunti - Named ECC Player of the Year.

  • Jessica Fischetti - Named ECC Libero of the Year

  • Chye Davis - Named Rookie of the Year

  • Affrunti and Fischetti were selected to the All-ECC First Team

  • Hailey Wehr was named to the All-ECC Second Team.

Please join us in congratulating them on their achievements. To see more, please click here.

Academy Players/Coaches Best In NY State!

The Boys and Girls high school volleyball season has wrapped up and we would like to congratulate all of our players on their seasons. There were many great finishes as Westhampton Beach made school history in capturing their first ever Division 2 Suffolk County and Long Island Championships (including a bid to the state tournament). For the girls, Seaford High School made their first State Tournament trip in school history.

Academy Volleyball would like to acknowledge the Sachem North Boys Volleyball Program in becoming the Division One, 2019 New York State Finalists and the Connetquot Girls Volleyball Program in becoming the Class AA 2019 New York State Champions.

Academy Volleyball is proud to have a large representation of athletes and coaches on the rosters of both programs.

 
 

Sachem North Boys Volleyball

The Sachem North Boys Volleyball program is the New York State Finalist, earning it’s third Finalist designation in the last five years. The following Sachem players are also Academy Volleyball athletes:

  • AJ Fitzgerald

  • Mark Williams

  • CJ Johnson

  • Chris Lehnert

  • Dan Lehnert

  • Brad Hall

  • Joe Pinner

  • Bryce McCann

  • Michael Bonura

  • Kyle Moore

  • Chris Hirt

  • Luke MacPherson

  • John Durkin

  • Eric D’Ambrosio

Academy/Sachem Coaches:

  • Matthew Rivera (HC)

  • Matt “Dezy” DiStefano (AHC)

  • Paul Curaro (AC)

  • Tyler Jones (JV/AC)

 
 

Connetquot Girls Volleyball

The Connetquot Girls Volleyball program has won their third New York State Championship in the last five years. The following Connetquot players are also Academy Athletes:

  • Diana Migliozzi

  • Kiarra Roth

  • Julia Patsos

  • Nicole Serravillo

  • Laurel Edwards

  • Gabby Carere

  • Katyie Hickey

  • Kylie Wixted

  • Steph Paye

  • Ryann Grable

  • Emma Cochran

  • Karley Colletti

  • Lauren Konzen

Academy/Connetquot Coaches:

  • Justin Hertz (HC)

  • Karen Edwards (AC)

  • Kayla Morgann (AC)


Championship Pedigree

In collegiate athletics, there are 157 men’s volleyball programs that are sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). At the end of each season, only two of those teams are crowned National Champions (Division I-II and Division III respectively). This means that only roughly 40 student-athletes (1% of the total population) will be able to achieve that honor. It’s not a stretch to say that winning championships are rare.

Winning championships in any sport, at any level, is something truly special. And, as anyone who has ever won a national championship will agree, they did so because everyone on the team bought in to the game plan, worked hard in practice and games, and believed they have what it takes to win a national championship.

The next generation of great coaches are front and center; Christian Smith, Nick Laffin, and Steve Woessner.

In that regard, Academy Volleyball is very fortunate to have a stable of young and upcoming coaches who understand this better than anyone as they have all been part of NCAA national championship teams during their playing careers.

Academy currently has four coaches, who were in that rare 1% of players who were crowned champions, right here within its coaching ranks. And they are now transferring that unique knowledge to the athletes within the program. Those coaches include:

  • Christian Smith, SUNY New Paltz National Champion 2016 (Team Captain, All-American, National Player of the Year, and played professionally in Greece)

  • Steve Woessner, SUNY New Paltz National Champion 2016, National Finalist 2017 (Team Captain, All-American)

  • Nick Laffin, Ohio State University National Champion 2016, 2017

  • Nick Smith, SUNY New Paltz National Champion 2016, 2019, National Finalist 2017 (All-American)

Over the past few years, as these young coaches have transitioned from playing to coaching, they bring that same energy and enthusiasm to training the next generation of volleyball players as they did to developing their own game. That energy has been carefully guided by long-time Academy Volleyball head coach, Rick Cole, who has mentored the group as they join the coaching ranks. “Their best attribute is the passion and ability to reach and teach the next generation of players”, said Cole, adding, “They are committed to helping, teaching, and sharing the life lessons they have experienced to better equip the players they coach. They are team players and team-first people who know only how to succeed.”

The 2016 SUNY New Paltz National Champions with C. Smith, N.Smith, and S. Woessner

The players find it easy to relate to Smith, Woessner, Laffin, and Smith, but it’s their credibility that commands the attention of their athletes. It’s hard to argue with someone who has won two national championships at Ohio State or who has played professionally in Europe. “I benefited from coaches Smith, Woess (Woessner), and Laff (Laffin), not only from learning how to play in certain situational instances, but also from having the right mindset to play at the highest level.”, said former Academy player Jack Driscoll, who now plays at Penn State. That sentiment was echoed by another former Academy player, Pat Wing (who now plays for SUNY New Paltz) as he added, “ they instilled a belief in ourselves that we could be as good as they were” while adding , “they are all so humble, you would never know what they accomplished unless you asked.”

Christian Smith during a professional volleyball match in Greece.

Having reached the top of their sport during their playing careers has certainly given them a unique insight to what it takes to get there. It’s that insight that will help guide the players to become the best they can be. “For us, it wasn’t so much about winning the national championship, it was about realizing the process that goes in to achieving greatness at that level.” said Christian Smith. “We fell in love with the process of getting better in the weight room, in the gym and mentally by watching film. This allowed us to take the pressure off ourselves and trust the work we did would put us in a position to be successful.”

Christian Smith and Steve Woessner receive their All-American honors at the NCAA Men’s Volleyball Banquet in 2016.

For Christian Smith’s former teammate and fellow All-American, Steve Woessner, the ability to be open to instruction and helping your fellow teammates is what makes all the difference.

“I think winning a national championship made me realize the importance of being coachable and buying into the system set forth by the team. By treating every practice as an opportunity to get better and pushing your teammates to have the same mindset, it makes having the courage to make big plays in pressure situations feel natural.”, said Woessner.

For Nick Laffin, a two-time NCAA Division I champion at Ohio State, it’s helping to teach the importance of hard work, which he learned from his two national championships, that will make the biggest difference.

Nick Laffin on the attack at Ohio State.

“I had too many unforgettable experiences at The Ohio State University. It was the months of putting in extra work, coming to practices sore, and mentally understanding this game better that helped make me a better player. This is what I try to get across to our athletes”, said Laffin.

In four years of collegiate volleyball, our newest coach at Academy Volleyball, Nick Smith (brother of Christian and Brian), helped to win two NCAA Division III national championships and was also a national finalist in another year. Going the distance in three out of the four of his college years will definitely give you an edge in understanding what it takes to get there.

He is excited to share the knowledge he has that comes from being a 2X champion and finalist. “Winning two national championships (and playing in a third NCAA Finals) taught me the importance of patience. It’s a long process and you need to be disciplined as you go through it”, said Smith (Nick). He will lean on those experiences as he trains the next generation of athletes. “I think those experiences along with my knowledge of the game will help build a great teaching relationship with my players”, he added.

The insights provided by this talented group of coaches is priceless to the athletes they coach. They are the living proof the methods they teach work. The athletes who come to Academy and absorb the lessons will end up years ahead of what other athletes may eventually learn and will be able to apply those lessons to situations that extend beyond volleyball.

“National Champions, yet better people. These men are incredible role models for our young men. They have sacrificed and worked beyond measure for over a decade.”, said Cole. No matter what the abilities and aspirations are of the athletes who come through Academy’s program, the lessons they teach and the example they set will help make our athletes better at the sport, but more importantly, better people. “The philosophy of focusing on the process with the players we coach allows them to develop and understand work ethic, not only with volleyball, but with life in general.”, said Smith.

Game on.

Academy Coaches Win Michelle O'Neill Beach Volleyball Tournament

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Academy Volleyball would like to congratulate coaches Brian Smith (Girls 17 Red) and Christian Smith (Boys 18 Red) as their team won the 4-man open division at the Michelle O’Neil Foundation Beach Volleyball tournament.

The Michelle O’Neill Foundation Beach Volleyball tournament has been around for over 20 years and is one of the biggest tournaments of the year, falling on the first Sunday after Labor Day. Held in the city of Long Beach, the tournament attracts some of the areas best players as well as players of all abilities.

Coaches Brian and Christian Smith (and welcome to the coaching team Nick!), both who will return to Academy for the upcoming 2020 season, competed in the 4-man division, which consisted of 77 teams.

Congratulations to Brian and Christian on their accomplishment.

Check out the Highlights!!

updated 9/17/19

A Summer to Remember for Acad's Samantha Green

Samantha Green, pictured on the right.

Samantha Green, pictured on the right.

Academy Volleyball would like to congratulate Samantha Green (15 Red) on her beach volleyball accomplishments over the summer.

Samantha once again qualified again (same as 2018) for the GEVA Beach High Performance team as well as for for the USA Volleyball Beach High Performance team (A2). She was also an alternate for the A1 team.

In addition to her High Performance accomplishments, below are additional highlights of her summer:

  • Competed in and won every event for both East End Volleyball (EEVB) and Great American Volleyball (GAV) events, playing in both the 16U and 18U divisions.

  • Competed twice in Womens AA divisions and won both times.

  • Earned bids to compete in AVP First events against teams from all over the country, placing 3rd and 5th respectively (AVP First is the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour’s pipeline program for youth volleyball players)

  • Earned several bids qualifying for and competing in the AVP First National Championships in Hermosa Beach California.

Congratulations to Samantha Green on her outstanding summer.

Click here to see some of Samantha’s outstanding statistics from the summer.