It was the year of the Eagle in boys volleyball.
Academy of American Studies rolled through the city almost untouched to win its first city championship – and the first-ever boys title of any kind for the small Long Island City school. The scary part is almost the entire core returns next year.
In the CHSAA, Regis continued its run of success, winning a fourth city crown in the last five years. The Raiders were competitive against the top PSAL teams, which hasn’t happened often for teams in the fledgling Catholic league.
All-City boys volleyball Player of the Year: Michal Kasza, Academy of American Studies
Denis Gostev
Academy Of American Studies' Michal Kasza is The Post's All-City boys volleyball Player of the Year.
Denis Gostev
Academy Of American Studies' Joshua Yang is The Post's All-City boys volleyball Coach of the Year.
Unstoppable swings at the net. Ferocious serves. Pinpoint passing. Relentless defense.
There wasn’t a phase of the game that Kasza didn't excelt in as he led Academy of American Studies to its first-ever PSAL boys volleyball championship. The 5-foot-11 junior had 14 kills in the final against Bronx Science after not being happy with his performance in the semifinals. Kasza left little doubt who the best player in the city was.
“He is just a phenomenal talent,” Academy coach Josh Yang said.
All-City boys volleyball Coach of the Year: Josh Yang, Academy of American Studies
Yang had all the talent for a city title run in the preseason, but had to meld it together to make all of American Studies' pieces work. He moved Conrad Zajkowsk to middle hitter from the right side and had former libero take over at outside hitter. The fiddling proved to be the right recipe for success – and at the end of the day Academy of American Studies was hoisting the PSAL championship banner.
FIRST TEAM
OH Tyler Gaugler, Cardozo
At one point, there was a fear that Gaugler would miss the entire playoffs with an ankle injury. But fighting through the pain and wearing a brace, the hard-hitting junior ended up leading Cardozo all the way to PSAL semifinals to cap a big year.
S Jerry Henriquez, Bronx Science
Possessing all the tools to be a college setter, Henriquez led Bronx Science to its second PSAL championship match in three years. The junior’s size at 6-foot-1 put him a step above other players at his position and his pinpoint setting was exceptional.
S Piotr Kasza, Academy of American Studies
Just a sophomore, Kasza was praised time and time again by coach Josh Yang for being a leader and the general out on the court. His brother, Michal, gets most of the attention, but Piotr was just as vital to American Studies' championship run.
OH Dukhyun Ko, Brooklyn Tech
The senior waited his turn and watched as other stars took Brooklyn Tech deep into the playoffs. This year, it was Ko’s time, the hard-hitting, athletic outside hitter pounding the upstart Engineers past the opposition and into the PSAL semifinals.
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Academy of American Studies, American Studies, Michal Kasza, PSAL, PSAL championship, Josh Yang, Bronx Science, Academy of American StudiesYang, Piotr Kasza, Academy coach Josh Yang, Joshua Yang, volleyball, championship, Kasza
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