NYPost.com boys volleyball beat writer Marc Raimondi breaks down the PSAL semifinals, set for Tuesday at Hunter College in Manhattan.
SCHEDULE
5 p.m. – No. 1 Academy of American Studies vs. No. 4 Cardozo
6:30 p.m. – No. 2 Bronx Science vs. No. 6 Brooklyn Tech
No. 1 Academy of American Studies Eagles
Head coach: Josh Yang
Record: 13-0
Player to watch: Piotr Kasza
No. 4 Cardozo Judges
Head coach: Danny Scarola
Record: 14-1
Player to watch: Isaac Hwang
Outlook: It’s fitting that Academy of American Studies has to go through Cardozo to win the PSAL city title. Cardozo won the previous three championships before Bryant won last year and the Eagles, who will also be the favorite next year, are hoping for something of a passing of the torch between Queens programs.
Lauren Marsh
Academy of American Studies sophomore Piotr Kasza will lead his team into the PSAL semifinals against Cardozo on Tuesday.
Academy provides a lot of issues for opposing defenses. Michal Kasza is an absolute destroyer on the outside and Conad Zajkowski is smart – and also 6-foot-5 – in the middle. Then there’s smooth setter Piotr Kasza and super-athletic Ricky Myint on the outside. There’s tons of star power and that’s why the Eagles are who they are – the team to beat in these playoffs.
Cardozo, though, cannot be taken lightly. The second best outside hitter in the city after Michal Kasza is probably Tyler Gaugler and Judges sophomore Isaac Hwang is a budding superstar himself. But Cardozo’s strength is its balance with Moses Park, Paul Kim and Jung Min Shin. If setter Youngsoo Shin works the ball around, the Judges are very hard to predict.
No. 2 Bronx Science Wolverines
Head coach: Jeremy BasSie
Record: 13-0
Player to watch: Alex Barbulescu
No. 6 Brooklyn Tech Engineers
Head coach: Noreen Begley
Record: 15-0
Player to watch: Ariel Velasquez Evers
Outlook: Bronx Science has the most talent in the city this side of Academy of American Studies and when it lost to the Eagles this season was without middle Alex Barbulescu. Of course, before the Wolverines can worry about the top seed, it must first contend with a scrappy Brooklyn Tech team that perennially plays Cinderella.
The Engineers are once again the little engine that could, knocking off New Utrecht, the No. 3 seed, in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Dukhyun Ko led the way like he has all season. Ko waited his time behind previous stars as did setter Ariel Velasquez Evers. Adonijah Smith, a middle, is a football player and Joaquin Ogando has very little volleyball experience. Noreen Begley has done a phenomenal job with this group.
Jeremy BasSie did a great job keeping Bronx Science together while Barbulescu nursed that bad ankle, too. Nate Chin has emerged as a significant threat and Preet Singh, who is 6-foot-4, is solid in the middle. Jerry Henriquez, a 6-foot setter, is the key to the offense, though. And blocking is the Wolverines’ greatest strength with all that size. Their height gives everyone fits.
mraimondi@nypost.com
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