New coach, defense, attitude for Randolph volleyball
RANDOLPH – If Olenka Hladky needs any extra motivation during practice, all she has to do is look up at the gym wall. Hanging near the scoreboard at the far end of Randolph’s gym is a blue-and-white banner commemorating the volleyball team. It looks very similar to all the others, but there are no dates on it.
With 11 seniors and an intense new coach, the Rams are determined to change that this fall. Adding a NJAC division, Morris County Tournament or NJSIAA sectional title to the banner is Randolph’s No. 1 goal.
But the Rams set smaller goals, both individually and as a team, nearly every time they step on the court. That competitive attitude comes from Sebastian DiPietro, a long-time assistant at Roxbury making his own step up to head coach.
“Everything we do in practice is a competition, which makes it easier in games,” said Hladky, a senior setter who will share time with her younger sister, sophomore Romana Hladky.
“It’s a competition with the other team, or to meet a goal we set for ourselves. If we don’t, there’s a consequence. ... We set a lot of individual small goals before every scrimmage. If you get all those little goals, it’ll turn into a big one.”
DiPietro introduced himself to many of the Randolph players at twice-weekly open gyms during the summer, giving up his summer job at Jeff Lake Day Camp in Stanhope to supervise. But his involvement with the Rams actually started two years ago, when he helped out at their volleyball camp. DiPietro and the rest of the Roxbury coaching staff were also “the loudest ones cheering for Randolph” as their archrival fell to Fair Lawn in Group III last fall.
An assistant at Roxbury for six years, DiPietro started playing volleyball as a freshman at East Brunswick. His eighth-grade English teacher, P.J. Locke, saw the athletic soccer goalkeeper and believed he could play volleyball as well. Locke and Scott Farnauer taught DiPietro the fundamentals of the game — “to read and react” — and he was part of a pair of NJSIAA titles in 1999 and 2000. Locke also inspired DiPietro, a self-described “very bad student” to refocus in the classroom, becoming a teacher and coach.
He is the Rams’ fourth head coach in the past six seasons. He instituted a 6-2 offense with both Hladky sisters setting, and a rover defense where two players dig in the back court and the setter picks up tips from the 10-foot line.
“We improve in different ways because each coach brings something new,” said 5-foot-11 senior Jenna Leanza, who moved from the middle to outside hitter this fall. “He’s very excited to get us excited. He’s very into team bonding, and keeping us up when we’re down, and he’s very intense. I think that’ll help during games, because we’ll be more energetic and ready to play.”
DiPietro learned the importance of bringing players together on and off the court from Beth Grasso, the head coach at Roxbury who formerly guided West Morris’ volleyball dynasty. Each Randolph junior and senior made spirit boxes for two “little sisters,” giving them snacks and motivational quotes. The Rams held a three-level scrimmage at Eastern on Saturday, so all the players could support each other.
“I have a sense of touch and feel to the game, rather than just numbers,” said DiPietro, who teaches eighth-grade social studies at Eisenhower Middle School. “I could see the passion that’s there, and that’s really what I wanted.”
Staff Writer Jane Havsy: 973-428-6682; jhavsy@gannettnj.com; www.dailyrecord.com/writerjane/
Volleyball Players to Watch
Shelby Chasin, Mendham senior outside hitter: A four-year varsity player, Chasin will have to step up and lead the Minutemen after major graduation losses. She had 134 kills and 25 aces last fall, and was named to the NJAC-United second team.
Katherine Clark, Madison senior setter: An All Daily Record first team honoree last fall, Clark will provide experience in the Dodgers’ powerful 5-1 offense.
Mikaela Dredden, Parsippany Hills senior middle hitter: A first-team NJAC-National honoree last fall, Dredden has been building toward this season since she started on varsity as a freshman.
Annie Karle, Mount Olive sophomore outside hitter: The 5-foot-11 sophomore is the Marauders’ returning leader in kills (226), blocks (25), and aces (48).
Lauren Kornmann, Roxbury senior outside hitter: Kornmann reached the 300-kill plateau last fall as the Gaels shared the NJAC-National title and reached a Group III quarterfinal — and she’s surrounded by veterans in 2015.
Allie Mondello, Villa Walsh junior libero: A NJAC-Liberty first-team selection last fall
Julia Murawinski, Jefferson senior middle hitter: Already verbally committed to play volleyball at Syracuse, the 6-foot-2 Murawinski is entering her fourth year on varsity.
Taylor Rosenberg, Kinnelon junior setter: One of two returning Colts starters, Rosenberg (322 assists) will be a stabilizing force.