Preview: Boys Varsity Volleyball

The Garden City boys’ varsity volleyball team finds itself in a state of transition as they enter the 2011 season. Gone are All-County hitter Logan Becker and All-Conference setter Jack Mara and replaced with a new lineup that features a mix of the old and the new.

The Trojans, who qualified for the playoffs last year despite a 5-9 mark, return just four players from last year’s roster. The 2011 squad will consist of six freshman, six sophomores and five seniors, including one new twelfth grader.

“We definitely feel it, losing Logan and Jack,” second-year coach Mike Weiner said after Tuesday’s season-opening straight-set loss to Great Neck North. “But I do have guys willing and able to step into those spots. Hopefully it will come through.”

One of the players Weiner is counting on is outside hitter Andrew Graham, originally being tried in the middle before being moved into Becker’s former spot. Graham had several kills to help the Trojans rally from a second-game deficit before eventually falling 22-25 to the Blazers.

“Andrew’s going to be our go-to guy,” Weiner said. “He’s a big hitter from the outside. We tried him in middle, (but) he belongs on the outside. He has a very fast swing.”

Graham is hoping to build a chemistry with setter Thomas Zwicke that could reach the level of what the team had with Becker and Mara.

“We’re definitely building a chemistry,” he said. “It will be there in a few days. We’ve just haven’t had enough time to practice.”

Among the newcomers, Weiner has high hopes for freshman Kyle Beckmann, who was in the starting lineup in the middle on Tuesday. Beckmann starred on the middle school team and spent time with the Long Island Volleyball Boys Club.

“He’s a little unsure at times what to do, but he’s getting better,” Weiner said. “Sometimes he doesn’t swing as fast I want, but he’s going to be getting there. As a freshman, I was very happy with him (on Tuesday).”

Mattingly Packman and Doug Donnelly return as this year’s co-captains. Donnelly, despite his small frame, is the team’s best server and will again man the back line on defense. Packman will move to the middle after previously playing as a setter.

“It’s a big adjustment going from setter to middle and he’s playing out of position, but he’s doing a decent job for us,” Weiner said.

Despite many of the players facing new positions, Weiner was extremely pleased with the setting and passing on Tuesday, but also felt that the serving needed extra practice. In a comedic moment, a third-game serve by Brendan Quane hit the back of Graham’s head.

The schedule will have a new wrinkle this season as the Trojans will face just five opponents this season (Great Neck North, Bethpage, New Hyde Park, Mepham and Valley Stream South) three times apiece. Garden City was originally slated to open the season against Bethpage on Sept. 8 but the match was postponed because of a lack of practices. (The high school acted as a shelter following Hurricane Irene.)

The new format does not faze Packman. “We’re going to go far in the playoffs,” he declared.