Eastport-SM wins Long Island Class B title
ESM's Ryan Brisson and teamates is ecstatic after winning the Class B Long Island Championship between Eastport-South Manor and Floral Park held at Hofstra University on Saturday. Eastport-South Manor came away with the title with a 3-0 victory. (Photo by Lee S. Weissman) Credit: Lee S. Weissman
Everything about John Bohnenblusch on the volleyball court is loud, from his highlighter pink socks to his whirling, screaming celebrations after particularly emphatic kills.
He had plenty of kills to celebrate, a team-high 17 to be exact, but never was he louder then after his final kill, which gave Eastport-South Manor (17-1) a three games to none victory over Floral Park (14-2) Saturday for the Long Island Class B championship.
"John was amazing," senior libero Joey Tuttle said. "His serving, blocks, kills, everything was pinpoint from him."
Bohnenblusch finished with 17 kills, four aces and seven digs. His performance helped his team to a second straight Long Island Class B title and into the state tournament next Saturday, an impressive accomplishment considering last year's team graduated seven players.
One of those returning players was Tuttle, who led his team with 25 digs.
"I just had to get the ball up so John could hit," Tuttle said. "We needed good passes just so Bris could set, John could hit, we could do our thing out there."
Eastport-South Manor dominated from the start by taking a 13-5 lead midway through the first game, which forced Floral Park to call a timeout. Junior Jahan Mirchandani helped Floral Park rally to within 14-10, but the Sharks soon took control, and won 25-20.
Brisson (23 assists, 7 kills) used two blocks to push Eastport-South Manor to an early 9-2 lead in Game 2. Brisson combined with junior Brandon Calderone on a block to push the lead to 16-7 later in the set and Bohnenblusch added a kill out of the back row to soon make it 20-12. Floral Park could not muster enough of a rally and a Bohnenblusch tip, followed by a Calderone block won the game for the Sharks 25-16.
Bohnenblusch dominated the third and final game, recording all four of his aces and ending a 5-3 Floral Park run with a kill. His final kill then won the game 25-14.
