By Jay Skurski<br><a href="mailto:skurskij@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Jay</a>
If the last names on the North Tonawanda boys volleyball team sound familiar, there’s a good reason. Whether it was a younger or older brother, it seems most of the team’s players have had a family member go through the program.
“My little brother played. I played. ... It always seems like somebody is related,” NT coach Luke Hodgson said. “That’s kind of the way we tailor the program, being that it’s a family atmosphere. These guys spend so much time together, they’re basically all brothers.”
Senior outside hitter Vinny Libroia didn’t have an older brother who introduced him to the sport, but did just that for his younger brother, Chris, a freshman on the junior varsity.
“He asks me what he does wrong when we get home. I try to help him as much as I can because it’s still new to him,” Vinny Libroia said.
Watching his older brother would be a good starting point for Chris, as Vinny has assumed a leadership role on this year’s varsity squad.
“He seems to be our go-to guy when we need a point,” Hodgson said of the elder Libroia. “He’s a leader out there on the court.”
Part of that leadership role involves handling adversity, which the Jacks have faced their fair share of this season. After winning the Niagara Frontier League with an undefeated league record last season, the Jacks have come back to the pack this year. NT stands at 5-3 in league play with a win over Lewiston-Porter on Tuesday.
“We haven’t found the right rotation yet,” Libroia said. “But every day we show up to work.”
Hodgson, who played for the Lumberjacks and later watched his little brother, Nick, also go through the program, believes that work ethic is fostered by each player wanting to exceed the accomplishment of those who came before them.
After all, there’s nothing better than beating a brother.
“It’s definitely in the blood,” the coach said. “Having family members seems to be our best feeder system.”
In addition to the Libroias, junior Pat Kenny’s younger brother, Cory, is also a freshman on the JV.
Contact editor Jay Skurski at 693-1000, ext. 117.
