2011 All-Long Island boys volleyball

JOHN BOHNENBLUSCH
Eastport-South Manor, Outside hitter, senior
He had 268 kills, 125 digs and a school-record 92 aces as ESM won its second straight Long Island championship. At the state championship, he was named a Division II All-Star.

RYAN BRISSON
Eastport-SM, Setter/RS, senior
The Suffolk player of the year is the rare breed of all-court player who is equally comfortable setting as he is hitting on the weak side. A two-time All-L.I. selection, he finished his ESM career with 1,733 assists while helping the Sharks to two straight state final appearances.

JONGHO BYUN
Port Washington, Middle hitter, junior
He had 265 kills, 79 blocks and 32 aces and was named to the All-County team. On Oct. 17, he had a career-high 30 kills in a five-game win against Plainview JFK.

PAT GATHMAN
Northport, Setter, senior
He averaged 32 assists per match, totaled 84 kills and earned Suffolk League II player of the year honors. An inventive and consistent distributor, he led the Tigers to an undefeated regular season.

GERARD GIGANTE
Lindenhurst, Outside hitter, senior
He saved his best performance for the biggest stage, as he had 12 kills and 22 digs in the Suffolk Division I final against Northport.

CASEY GUERCIO
Connetquot, Outside hitter, senior
His coach, Jeff Shiebler, called him “truly the best boys volleyball player ever to play for Connetquot.” Despite his team’s 2-10 League I record, opposing coaches unanimously regard him as one of the county’s top offensive players.

CHRIS HAUN
Sachem North, Setter, senior
He finished the season with 668 assists, averaging more than 10 per game in a season where the Flaming Arrows made it to the Suffolk Division I semis. A team captain, he had 34 kills against only 16 errors.

LONG ISLAND PLAYER OF THE YEAR: CHRIS HUSMANN
Massapequa, Middle hitter, senior
He had a school-record 331 kills as the Chiefs went 20-0 en route to their first L.I. title. He had 20 kills in both the Nassau and Long Island championships.

PETER JENSEN
Bay Shore, Outside hitter, senior
A four-year starter and three-time All-County selection, he moved from middle hitter to outside this season and had 241 kills as the Marauders advanced to the Suffolk Division I semis.

CHRISTIAN SMITH
Massapequa, Setter, senior
He was named to the All-State team, as the Chiefs did not lose a match until the state championship. He had a school-record 450 assists to go along with 51 blocks and 35 aces.

TRAVIS VONHOLT
Lindenhurst, Middle hitter, senior
An athletic 6-5 force, he was the epitome of a defensive stopper. He dominated the front line as the Bulldogs won their first Suffolk Division I championship.

STEVEN WOESSNER
Massapequa, Middle hitter, junior
Emerging as one of the Island’s most versatile offensive players, he tallied a school-record 93 blocks. He helped lead the Chiefs to their third straight Nassau Class A title and first Long Island title.

COACH OF THE YEAR: STEVE MARIANO
Massapequa
He led the Chiefs to become the first Nassau team to qualify for the state tournament, as they cruised to a 20-0 record against Long Island competition. He has won three Nassau Class A titles in four seasons at the helm.

Newsday's 2011 All-Long Island boys volleyball team
Front row, from left: Pat Gathman (Northport), Suffolk player of the year Ryan Brisson (Eastport-South Manor), Casey Guercio (Connetquot), Gerard Gigante (Lindenhurst), John Bohnenblusch (Eastport-South Manor), Steven Woessner (Massapequa).
Back row, from left: Coach Steve Mariano (Massapequa), Peter Jensen (Bay Shore), Travis VonHolt (Lindenhurst), Long Island player of the year Chris Husmann (Massapequa), Chris Haun (Sachem North), Christian Smith (Massapequa).

BOYS VOLLEYBALL SECOND TEAM
Brady Ambro, Northport, senior
Vincent Bracco, Ward Melville, senior
Matt Cahill, Sachem North, senior
Ben Canarick, Bellmore JFK, senior
Randall Colson, Sachem East, senior
Jason Cortapasso, Floral Park (pictured), senior
Calvin Manchenko, Half Hollow Hills, junior
Kevin Nardone, Port Washington, senior
Joe Norman, Bay Shore, senior
Evan Schwartz, Plainview JFK, senior
Andrew Still, Long Beach, senior
Steven Tarquinio, Smithtown East, junior