Boys Volleyball Reaches Quarterfinals After Impressive Run

Roman Dishméy ‘25 rises up against Manhattan Center in the first round of the playoffs. *Photo: Adreinne Mercado*

By YASEEN ELGEZEIRY, ENIAN MANI, SAMURAH ISLAM, and TIFFANY DONG

with contributions from Phoebe Huang and Otto Liang, who is a member of the team

After a strong start to the postseason that saw victories in the first and second rounds, the Boys Volleyball team met their fate in a 2-0 quarterfinal loss against McKee/Staten Island Tech on May 20.

The team started the playoffs on fire, blazing past Manhattan Science 2-0 in dominant fashion on May 16, with outside hitters Max Kogan ‘24 and Roman Dishmey ‘25 totaling 13 kills to finish off the match triumphantly.

“I think that we left no doubt about this match and made a statement about our team’s competitiveness,” said Kogan.

The team continued on, where they knocked out Bronx Science 2-0. However, Midwood was unable to move past McKee/Staten Island Tech in the quarterfinals.

“It was a very competitive and intense match,” said Dishmey. “We were very close in both matches, but we weren’t able to turn the pressure high enough to win the rest of the game.”

“It was a tough loss to take after going so far, but we will come back much stronger next season,” said outside hitter Benson Chen ‘27.

Although the Hornets didn’t fulfill their aspirations of taking home a championship this season, they still had an impressive regular season record of 8-2, finishing second in the division behind only John Jay, who went 9-1.

The team held a busy practice schedule, working 5-6 days a week in the G-gym. Practices lasted from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on Wednesdays, they had supplemental weight training.

Coach Tommy Ma also focuses on the mental side of the game during the team’s practices.

“Being mentally and physically calm, trying to stay poised, especially when we are down [is important],” said Mr. Ma. “We’re just teaching them not to panic and to learn how to help themselves, instead of expecting the other team to make a mistake.”

Reflecting on their games, the boys praised Mr. Ma for his strategic guidance.

“Coach Tommy has been so great all season,” said Ethan Lager ‘24. “He really encourages us to work as a unit, not so much as individuals.”

“Our coach is a vital part of our team,” said Kogan. “Coach Ma knows when our team is struggling, he knows how to pick us back up, and he helps us play at our best.”

In one of their finest displays in the regular season, Midwood lit up Harry Van Arsdale Educational Campus 2-0 on May 3, with Stefan Simon ‘24 and Otto Liang ‘25 stacking up 13 aces and 3 kills to finish off the second match 25-8.

The win took place on Senior Night, a bittersweet reminder that many of the team’s leaders will soon be graduating.

“Playing with the seniors was crucial in building this tight bond,” Benjamin Altman Lager ‘27 said. “They know each other’s gameplay and emotions better than anyone else on the team, which creates a strong base to build on.”

The victory against Arsdale was just one of many successful performances the team put on this season, as they secured victories against some of the best teams in the division, such as Grand Street Campus and Brooklyn Technical High School.

“Our team did really well this season,” said setter Kadon Lai ‘25. “We had an excellent win-loss record and we had a lot of accomplishments and highlights along the way.”

The team entered five tournaments during the season, making the playoffs in four of them and bringing home a trophy in the Eduard Nogay Tournament at Fort Hamilton High School on April 6.

“Although we faced ups and downs in our road this season, we always persevered and never failed to bring trouble to our opponents,” said defensive specialist Haobin Chen ‘27.

Midwood’s competitiveness is due in large part to the experience of the players on the team. The team has had consistent leadership, allowing for equally consistent performance during games.

“We’ve always been a close-knit team, and it has played a large part in our success,” said Lai.

Still, the Hornets have reached higher heights in recent years. In spring 2023, they were first in the division, and in spring 2022, they made it to the semifinals. The team felt they had potential to win it all this year, so their playoff exit came as a disappointment.

"Initially I felt sad because I know we could get further,” said Lai. “But there's always next year, and we have a new lineup of freshmen who are better than what I’ve seen before."

“We have a lot of potential, and the new players are taking a big part in learning some of the basic skills,” said Mr. Ma. “Hopefully in the near future, one or two years, they should be filling in the big shoes of our juniors and seniors.”

Ivan Chen ‘24, the team’s captain, added, "Now that it’s over, I can reflect and say I am very proud of how far we’ve come. For the two years that I've been here, these guys have improved so much, and the fact that we came so far gives me high hopes for the season to come."