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Sports

A New Ultimate Goal For HHH Volleyball: States

When you hear about high school sports, you hear about football, basketball and soccer. Maybe not for much longer.

When the topic of high school sports comes up, it is safe to say that you are going to hear about football, basketball and soccer.  Rarely do you hear about an exceptionally good sports team that isn't playing one of those three sports.  

But that's not the case in the Half Hollow Hills school district. We have a number of those teams, and the most prominent and surely the most up-and-coming popularity wise, is the combined Hills East and Hills West boys' volleyball team.

The combined boys team, although unnoticed by many living in the district, have actually been an extremely successful and abnormally talented team since 2006.  In fact, the team has made it to the Suffolk County Championship game every year since 2006, only failing to win once in 2007.

"We have always had an amazingly gifted team," said Hills West senior Max Willinger.  "This year is no different; we are running a new set called the 6-2, which will allow us maximize our team's ability and help us win those big games that we need."  

While winning big games has never really been an issue for this team, it is especially important this year.  This is because Nassau County will finally be joining Suffolk and playing volleyball during the fall season.  This gives teams the opportunity to compete in a Long Island Championship game and even move on to the New York State Championships.  

"We have never been lucky enough to have an opportunity like this one.  We have been waiting for this shot our entire high school career and now it is just time to take advantage," said Hills West senior Chris Kaimis.  "Our ultimate goal is to win at States, not just for us, but for our past teammates who never had this opportunity, and for Long Island--so that we can put volleyball back on the map."  

When asked what it's like being known as the top player in Suffolk County and arguably the best on Long Island, Kaimis said, "I don't pay attention to that stuff, and neither does the team.  We are more concerned with being ranked number one on Long Island. We know that we have that bull's eye on our backs and we are ready for the challenges ahead."  

The team's first game is on Tuesday September 21st and they are looking to start the season off on a high note in order to reach their ultimate goal: a NYS Championship.

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