HHH's Kaimis led charge to state final
Half Hollows Hills Chris Kaimis reacts to a point against McQuaid. (Nov. 20, 2010) Credit: Pat Orr
The Half Hollow Hills boys volleyball team played at optimal speed, a whirling dash of rotations and substitutions that highlighted its depth and efficiency.
Smack dab in the middle of the machine was senior middle hitter Chris Kaimis, a four-time All-County selection and 2010 All-State selection. A four-year varsity player, Kaimis led the charge for a Hills team that went undefeated until it lost in the Division I state championship. Kaimis is Newsday's Player of the Year.
"I give him credit because a lot of people in his spot sometimes level off," Half Hollow Hills coach Craig Berini said. "And he only improved every single year."
In his final varsity campaign, Kaimis led a veteran group that included six senior starters and three fellow All-Long Island players. Rather than try and dominate on his own, Kaimis deferred much of the load to his talented teammates.
"This year was the easiest year out of all of them because the majority of us were seniors, and we realized this was our last shot," Kaimis said.
"When we played the tougher teams, they had to game plan for five or six of us."
It was Kaimis, however, who tied things together for Long Island's preeminent program. A stout defensive force, Kaimis often had the task of neutralizing the opposing team's best player. On offense, his presence freed things for outside hitter and fellow All-State player Mike DeGrazia.
But when he needed to provide an emotional spark, he did just that. In the Suffolk final against then-undefeated Smithtown East, Hills dropped the second set to even the match. Berini said it was Kaimis' calming presence and clutch play that helped the Thundercolts secure a third straight Suffolk crown.
Berini said of Kaimis, "He basically carried people on his shoulders through the rough times when we needed it the most."
