When a spectator, in favor of a particular team or neutral, steps foot into a packed gymnasium minutes before two powerhouse programs face off, they can feel the tension and energy on the hardwood floor beneath them. Every moment has equal importance, having the potential to drastically change the outcome of the match.
The man behind that game-changing moment for the Scotch Plains-Fanwood boys volleyball team on Tuesday evening was junior Brandon Indoe. Behind 22-17 in the first set, the Raiders needed a flicker to rouse a critical comeback.
It started with two consecutive service points to erase the lead, and it ended with a set-clinching kill to give the underdog side an unexpected edge in the match.
After falling short 25-20 in the following set, SPF needed a valiant and collective effort to see the upset win out. Early on, they led 8-4, forcing the Knights to regroup with a timeout. Coming out of the break, the Raiders mounted persistent pressure on the away side and began pulling away on the scoreboard.
“We all did our jobs and celebrated for every single point we got, keeping one another’s heads up when we messed up,” Indoe told The Fanscotian.
With an extraordinary 53-game winning streak on the line and ranked as the best team in the state, Old Bridge would not go out without battling to the very end.
“We focused on playing our game and keeping our energy up,” Indoe said. “We had to play as if we were down five to not get cocky and relax our game.”
Despite the back-and-forth rally, SPF held the lead for the entirety of the final set, reaching match point. The serve swooped on the Raiders’ end, returned calmly by senior libero Andy Sicinski up to sophomore setter Brody Balestrino, setting it over to junior outside hitter Dan Ennis who secured the stunning win with a clever kill.
“[On Tuesday] we were able to accomplish something that nobody else in the entire state can ever do. And I couldn’t be more proud of that,” Indoe said.
The junior pairing of outside hitters Ennis and Indoe has averaged a combined 22 kills per game, representing the young talent behind the face of the SPF roster.
“In being a more crucial part of the team, the main thing that has come with that is responsibility for both myself and others,” Indoe said. “It’s taught me how to be a leader and the importance of staying focused on the goal and giving my all.”
In 46 sets, Indoe has 184 kills (second most on the team) and 142 digs (third most on the team). He surpassed his total kills from last season and will likely double that number as well.
On the other end of the court, Ennis is carrying on the legacy that his brother, Tim, started in the SPF program while chasing milestones of his own. He recorded his 500th career kill on Friday, May 2 in a 2-0 win over Elizabeth, becoming the third player to achieve the mark in school history.
Old Bridge, the best volleyball program in the state, went a perfect 32-0 in their prior campaign. They continued the historic state-longest winning streak to 53 games before the test against No. 3 SPF.
With the win, SPF moved to 18-2 on the year and seized the attention of the competition amongst the state. The Raiders are looking to continue their county tournament reign as it is up ahead on the schedule in the coming weeks.
“This win is simply bragging rights for us. We don’t plan to let it change our playing style or become overconfident,” Indoe said. “Whether we won or lost that match, we’d still plan to go all the way and win counties, sectionals, and states.”
