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2012 All-New York City boys volleyball team
Photo by Daimon Reid
FIRST TEAM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
MICHAL KASZA
Academy of American Studies, Jr. OH
Michal Kasza isn’t just the best boys volleyball in the city this year, he’s the most dominant player to come around the five boroughs in quite some time, Academy of American Studies coach Josh Yang said.
“Everyone likes the kill, everyone likes the line shot and the bounce of the ball,” Yang said. “But watch him pass. Everything is on target. His passing is incredible…His defense is incredible.”
All the junior outside hitter did was lead the Eagles to their first-ever PSAL title. Kasza had 14 kills and seven digs in the final against Bronx Science.
CONRAD ZAJKOWSKI
Academy of American Studies, Jr. MH
Nicknamed “Zideout” by teammates, the 6-foot-7 junior middle elevated his game when it mattered post – the playoffs. He was instrumental in a three-set win in the semifinals against Cardozo with 12 kills and seven blocks and had six of his 11 kills in the second set to rally the Eagles from a one-set deficit in the final against Bronx Science.
PIOTR KASZA
Academy of American Studies, So. S
American Studies is the favorite to repeat as PSAL champions because the big three of Michal Kasza, Conrad Zajkowski and Piotr Kasza return next year. At setter, the sophomore is the quarterback of the group and showed leadership beyond his years in the postseason. He had 30 assists in the semifinals against Cardozo and had 27 assists and 10 digs in the title game.
JERRY HENRIQUEZ
Bronx Science, Jr. S
At 6-feet, Henriquez might have been the tallest setter in the city, according to Wolverines coach Jeremy BasSie and it worked to a huge advantage on both sides of the net as the junior not only facilitated the attack, he also often finished it. Henriquez had nine kills and 13 assists in a three-set loss to American Studies in the PSAL final.
TYLER GAUGLER
Cardozo, Jr. OH
Gaugler displayed his toughness in the playoffs, shaking off a sprained ankle that sidelined him in the opening round against Hillcrest to guide the Judges to the PSAL semifinals. The junior outside hitter had nine kills in a quarterfinal win against Bryant and nearly led Cardozo to a monumental upset of top-seeded American Studies in the semifinals with eight kills and nine digs.
TOM MCLAUGHLIN
Regis, Sr. OH
Regis coach Alex Chan likes to talk about how his team’s depth was a big reason why the Raiders won a third CHSAA title in four years. That’s true, but it also helps to have one of the top outside hitters in the city in McLaughlin, who had nine kills and 14 service points in the final against Cardinal Spellman.
SECOND TEAM
ISAAC HWANG
Cardozo, So. OH
DUKHYUN KO
Brooklyn Tech, Sr. OH
KADEEM NIBBS
Hunter College HS, Sr. MB
GODWIN SEQUEIRA
Bryant, Sr. L
KWOK TANG WONG
New Utrecht, Jr. MH
QING ZE JIANG
New Utrecht, Sr. S
COACH OF THE YEAR
JOSH YANG
Academy of American Studies
With an enrollment of about 700, Yang doesn’t have a large talent pool at the Academy of American Studies, which makes the championship program he’s built in six years all the more impressive. Yang used last year’s loss in the PSAL final to motivate this year’s squad, moving Ricky Myint in to replace Nino Hot in the lineup and giving young players like brothers Michal and Piotr Kasza a leadership role.
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