Sports
Boys Volleyball Aims for State Tourney
Season begins Thursday at home v. Pope John at 4:30 p.m.
In the case of the Summit Boys Volleyball program, it does take a village.
With an eye on a third straight state tournament appearance, the Summit Boys Volleyball team opens its 2010 campaign Thursday, as it hosts Pope John (Sparta) at 4:30 p.m.
To field a team is already an accomplishment for Summit coach John Ross, who is in his fourth year.
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The boys program is currently a completely, privately-funded team. Parents, this year alone, raised $16,000 to keep the program afloat and this is the third straight year they have raised financial support to help the team.
"We get great support from the Summit Boosters Club, our athletic director Mike Sandor and the Summit Board of Education, but funding for us is still a major issue," Ross said. "Thankfully, we are back in the budget for the 2010-11 school year, but new state regulations, proposed by Trenton, may once again force us to be funded outside the budget."
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Summit returns nine seniors to the mix, led by Joseph Callahan as setter and Garrett Benisch as the team's top hitter. Other seniors include: Sam Densen, Roman Delgado, Christian Flores, Anise Molina, Chris Osmun, John Lim and Erick VonHaas.
Summit has only six home matches, with the first four matches of the season at home.
"Our number one goal this year is to make the the state tournament for the third year in a row," Ross said. "We are a relatively new program in the state and it is a great accomplishment by the boys to have made it to the tournament in each of their first two years of eligibility."
2010 Summit Boys Volleyball Schedule & Roster
Schedule:
April 1: Pope John (Sparta), 4:30 p.m.
April 5: Colonia, 4 p.m.
April 9: Lakeland, 4 p.m.
April 12: JFK, Paterson, 4 p.m.
April 13: @JFK (Iselin), 4 p.m.
April 16: Watchung Hills, 4 p.m.
April 20: @ Colonia, 4 p.m.
April 22: @ Pope John (Sparta), 4:30 p.m.
April 24: @ Marlboro Tournament, TBA
April 27: @ Roselle Catholic, 4 p.m.
April 29: Newark North 13th Street, 4 p.m.
May: 7: @ Watchung Hills, 4 p.m.
May 10: Roselle Catholic, 4 p.m.
May 11: JFK (Iselin), 4 p.m.
May 13: @ Lakeland, 4:15 p.m..
Roster: Seniors (9): Garrett Benisch, Joseph Callahan, Roman Delgado, Sam Densen, Christian Flores, Anise Molina, Chris Osmun, John Lim, Erick VonHaas. Juniors (6): Ian Breen, Cristofer Cafiero, Maxwell Frank, Luke Shehata, Matt Smith, Zachary Tolles. Sophomores (4): Matthew Boozan, Scott Meagher, Cameron Simko, Connor Wied. Freshmen (4): Christopher Chen, Ethan Chivers, Nicholas Neuenschwander, Joel Smalley.
