Virus ends Bethel Park’s volleyball season
This spring, Zach Smith may have the best manicured lawn in his neighborhood. The Bethel Park resident also has tons of excess energy.
Blame the coronavirus crisis.
Normally, Smith rushes from one job to another. He is a chemistry teacher at Chartiers Valley High School and is also the boys volleyball coach at Bethel Park High School.
“It’s kind of a weird time for me,” he said after the PIAA canceled all spring sports because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “At this point in the season, I’m usually sleep deprived. The lawn has been cut earlier this year than ever before.
“I’m doing everything we’ve all been told to do. Staying at home and being safe. Ask my wife,” he said of his bride, Colleen, “I’m antsy and pacing around the house though. It’s nice to be at home, but it’s tough. I can’t see my guys.”
The Black Hawks were due to return more than a dozen upperclassmen from a successful 2019 team. Last year, BP finished 18-2 overall. The Black Hawks were WPIAL runners-up and advanced as far as the PIAA semifinals.
BP’s lone losses were to North Allegheny, which captured the district and PIAA titles.
“We were poised for a big year,” Smith said. “We felt confident we would be fighting for titles because we had tons and tons of experience.”
The Black Hawks set the bar high in 2020 for WPIAL and PIAA championships because of 10 talented seniors — two of which committed to NCAA Division I college programs.
Tyler Simpson will continue his playing career at Lewis University in Illinois. The 6-11 middle hitter led the Black Hawks in blocks. The all-section and all-district star ranked second in kills.
“Having his height has its advantages, but so much has gone into his development,” said Smith. “Tyler made the committment to become better and he made a name for himself (to college recruiters) outside of Bethel. But what has been really cool and crazy is seeing how much he has grown as a player. Not just his physical attributes, but how well he understands the game.”
Tony Boff knows the game, too. The 5-10 senior has committed to St. Francis University in Loretto.
While he has been the team’s starting libero since he was a freshman, Boff was also going to see time as a hitter this season.
“Tony has been that constant in the program. Opposing coaches were sick of seeing him and were glad he’s finally graduating,” said Smith. “He’s been one of our building blocks because passing is so important in the game. When he needs to take over, Tony’s there to fill all the holes that we have.
“It’s also sad that he didn’t get to play this spring because he’s one of those guys that has worked hard and gotten stronger. Since he jumps well enough, we were going to put him in position to actually hit for us.”
Kevin Kerr set for the Hawks. He has started since his freshman year.
“Kevin wasn’t someone that we had to do a ton with physically because he came to us almost as a finished product,” Smith said. “We just had to tighten up a few things mentally.”
A defensive specialist, Josh Capristo could have slid into the libero spot when Boff shifted into a hitter. Capristo has grown into his position and his 5-5 stature.
“When he came to us, multiple coaches asked if he was in high school because he might have been 5 foot,” said Smith, “but Josh has grown into his spot and has learned the technique of the game. As he has gotten stronger and with all the time he has put into the game, he has developed into a fearless, hard-nosed working kid. He’s not afraid to dive and he has made up for what he has lacked in height.”
Vinnie Debald is another defensive specialist that has been in the program since seventh grade. In his previous three seasons, he has played virtually any defensive position for the Black Hawks.
“He’s done it all,” Smith said. “He’s another one of those guys that you trust because he’s willing to do anything that you ask him to do. He grew into his role to the point that we could plug him into any spot.”
Austin Cortopassi was expected to fill the shoes of the outside hitters that had come before him, including Max Cooley, who was the WPIAL Player of the Year in 2019. A second option in previous years, Smith said Cortopassi was going to be the one who steps up.
“This was going to be his year to be the main guy,” Smith said. “From the day football ended, Austin was at everything we needed him to be at and he worked so hard. In the past seven years, we have had one good one after another and Austin was poised to take the reins and become our next great outside hitter.”
Jake Pauley was also ready to show his skills as an outside hitter. During the off season, Pauley took stepped “up” his game” by playing club volleyball.
“He was going to be a contributor,” Smith said. “Jake knew coming in there was a position to fill and he took it upon himself to work on his game and his body. It’s sad that now he doesn’t get that opportunity.”
Alex Brownfield found himself in a similar position as Pauley. The 6-8 right-side hitter played behind Josh Sprandle last year.
“Alex knew he needed to raise the level of his game to go towards the goals we wanted,” Smith said. “You can tell parts of his game come easy. He’s an incredible blocker but we needed to work on his arm swing. We really expected this would be a breakout year for him. He was going to have opposing coaches scratching their heads and wondering where he’d come from.”
Though Sebe DiPrampero has been BP’s second setter behind Kerr, the senior has found a way to contribute.
“He does things that don’t show up in a match, but make us better,” Smith said. “He’s found a role. He’s a versatile player. He gives us a lot of option. A lot of formations because of how hard he works.”
Tommy DiRienzo, an all-section basketball player who averaged 18.6 points and 4.1 rebounds a game, joined the volleyball team at the urging of his friends. He is 6-4.
“The players got in his ear and I wasn’t going to say no to that height and athletic ability,” Smith said. “We could make that into something. After a two-week crash course in volleyball, he had learned how to hit from every position. You make sure that type of height and athleticism sees the court. It would have been fun to see what Tommy could have done.”
The Hawks expected to contend for a ninth-straight section title and post a fourth straight undefeated regular season with the help of four other talented underclassmen. They included juniors Jackson Banes and John Harmon and sophomores Fred Schein and Dolan Waldo.
“Losing a (chance at) a title doesn’t mean a ton to me,” Smith said. “What matters are these guys, especially the seniors, who poured so much into the program. These kids are special to me. Good guys. They have done a ton to lift the program up and take it to new places.
“Wins don’t mean anything. It’s the relationships that have been something special.”