Volleyball All-Stars

"I really didn't know much about the sport," Parisi said. "One day coach (Scott) Sweeten came up to me and said he was looking for some big kids for the team. Then I went to watch a practice and really got interested. That's kind of how it all got started."

The 6-foot-3 junior played on the junior varsity team his freshman year and spent the last two seasons as a starter on the varsity club.

"Right from the start you could see Matt had athletic ability," Sweeten said. "But he had to learn the game. Last year he played the middle for us because we needed someone big there. He did a very nice job there, but after the season I told him we were going to need him on the outside next year."

"At first it was a big adjustment for me," Parisi said. "But playing club volleyball during the offseason really helped me adapt to the outside. Once I adjusted to the outside it got easier and easier for me. I became the go-to guy on our team and I enjoyed that role."

He adjusted to his new position so well he has been named the 2004 Courier-Post Volleyball Player of the Year.

Parisi turned in one powerful performance after another as he helped the Lions compile a 21-3 record and their first Olympic Conference American Division championship. During the season, the Lions won 17 straight matches before losing a hard-fought 3-2 decision to Fair Lawn in the state tournament quarterfinals.

During the season he recorded a school-record 336 kills and had a remarkable 43 percent kill rate.

He also led the Lions in digs, averaging 13 a match, and had an 80 percent passing accuracy rate.

"Matt has worked extremely hard to get where he is today," Sweeten said. "And his best days are still ahead of him."

"We all had a fantastic time this year," Parisi said. "After we beat Cherry Hill East the first time this season I knew we had something going. Sure we lost a tough match to Fair Lawn, but this season is something I won't soon forget."

He moved a few players to different positions with remarkable results and others simply stepped up their games to another level.

All this resulted in an outstanding season for the Lions.

They won the Olympic Conference American Division title for the first time in the program's 11-year history and finished the season with a 21-3 record.

"I knew we were going to be a pretty good team this year," Sweeten said.

"But I just didn't know just how good. We have played in the shadow of Cherry Hill East for many years, so we had to chase some ghosts out before this could be a very successful season."

The Lions put together a remarkable 17- match winning streak, including two victories over Cherry Hill East for the first time in history, that only ended with a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Fair Lawn in the state tournament quarterfinals.

For his accomplishments this season Sweeten has been named the 2004 Courier-Post Volleyball Coach of the Year.

"This is a very nice honor," Sweeten said. "But it was certainly a team effort all-around this season. I have always believed that a good coach lays out a plan and then stays out of the way.

"The key was that the kids accepted the roles I gave them. I have always believed when that happens it makes things so much easier for everyone involved."

Sweeten says another big factor in West's success this year came from the large number of players that got involved in club volleyball during the offseason.

"The kids came back and told me what worked for them during the club season," Sweeten said. "So I incorporated some of that in our plan for the season. I think that kind of communication worked out well for us.

"It was a wonderful experience this year. I had a great time and I think the kids had a great time. Beating Cherry Hill East twice and winning the division title made it even that more enjoyable for us."