After an undefeated season in HVIAC play, which ended with a sweep over St. Joseph’s-Brooklyn in the championship round, the Maccabees expect to be highly competitive once again in the league, while continuing to work toward upping their rank in the ultra-competitive Skyline Conference.

Yeshiva finished 10-17 overall en route to their second HVIAC championship, and while the Maccabees are expected to fight for another league title this year, it will be under somewhat of a new leader. Jacqui Dauphinais, who served as assistant coach last season, will take the reigns as the new head coach of the program.

“I’m really looking forward to continuing our success in the Hudson Valley and improving our presence in the Skyline Conference,” said Dauphinais. “We’re coming into the season with a lot of heart, optimism and talent, and we are preparing to show that on the court.”

This season, the Maccabees welcome back a slate of talented returnees, and it starts with Joseph Lipton (Toronto, Ont., Or Chaim). Lipton, a senior who last season was named an HVIAC all- conference member, returns to the team after recording 75 kills (0.87 killer per set), with 98 digs (1.14 digs per set) and 31 total blocks (0.36 blocks per set).

Another key returnee is Eliakim Gartenberg (San Jose, Calif., Torah Acad. of Bergen County). Last season, Gartenberg recorded 103 kills (1.45 kills per set) and a team-high 40 blocks (0.56 blocks per set).

Also back is Benjamin Mann (Brooklyn, N.Y., Yeshiva of Flatbush). Last season Mann had 88 kills (1.44 kills per set), with 13 blocks (0.21 blocks per set), and 41 digs (0.67 digs per set).

Joshua Teller (Toronto, Ont., Yeshivat Or Chaim) saw limited time due to injury, but with Teller back healthy, he will be called upon for a big campaign. In just 24 sets last year, Teller had 31 kills (1.29 kills per set) with a team-high.286 attack percentage to go along with 12 digs (0.50 digs per set).

Also returning for the Maccabees is Jorge Dabah (Panama City, Panama, Dr. Michael M. Krop). Last season Dabah had a team-high 29 service aces (0.36 service aces per set), with 158 digs (1.95 digs per set).

Kolya Miller (Chicago, Ill., Ida Crown Jewish Academy) had 49 kills last season (0.96 kills per set) with 25 blocks (0.49 blocks per set).

And then there is Mishael Miller (Chicago, Ill., Ida Crown Jewish Academy). Last season Miller, playing primarily libero, had 195 digs (2.24 digs per set).

Another returnee is Hirschy Zaks (Silver Spring, Md., Berman Hebrew Academy), who had 135 digs (1.75 digs per set).

While a wealth of talent returns to the team, the Maccabees welcome in as much new talent, including Joseph Benichou (Fort Lee, N.J., Frisch), Zev Friend (Seattle, Wash., Pacific Torah Institute), Jonathan Goldstein (Los Angeles, Calif., YULA), Tuvia Marks (Los Angeles, Calif., Valley Torah), David Moradi (West Orange, N.J., Rae Kushner Yeshiva) and Jonathan Shedlo(Baltimore, Md.).

“We have a strong core of returning players,” said Dauphinais. “And our new players are bringing great talent to the team, helping us to improve overall.”

By YUMACS.COM