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‘Long Island Medium’ Theresa Caputo returns to Wilkes-Barre’s F.M. Kirby Center

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2016 Times Leader Boys Volleyball All-Stars

<p>His first swing of the regular season left quite an impression.</p><p>It was during warm-ups of a locally-televised game at Nanticoke Area. Rob Zbierski took to the court with his Holy Redeemer teammates and went to his designated spot. Setter Nick James lofted a nice pass, and Zbierski soared through the air. The noise upon contact was deafening. Kind of like a firework exploding in the dark sky on the Fourth of July.</p><p>The ohs and ahs echoed from a small group of students there to support the home Trojans.</p><p>That was the reaction Zbierski got in most gyms.</p><p>&#8220;When we were warming up in our first scrimmage at Bethlehem Freedom, we were surrounded by 4A teams. And when he hits the ball, it sounds like thunder. Teams would stop and look,&#8221; Redeemer head coach Jack Kablick said. &#8220;One referee joked with me and said his swing should be illegal. He was just pounding the ball. That&#8217;s the kind of impact that he had.&#8221;</p><p>For his efforts, Zbierski, a senior at Redeemer, has been selected the Times Leader 2016 Boys&#8217; Volleyball Player of the Year.</p><p>&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t imagine going through high school any other way. I met a lot of great kids, and made some good friends in addition to playing the sport that I love,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Four years ago, volleyball wasn&#8217;t even on Zbierski&#8217;s radar.</p><p>He played youth sports growing up, but admittedly, wasn&#8217;t passionate about them.</p><p>It wasn&#8217;t until his sophomore year when things changed.</p><p>&#8220;When I was at Coughlin, Kenny Werkheiser kept asking me to come out for the team and play. I did, and I just fell in love with it,&#8221; Zbierski said. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe it when I look back to where I was as a sophomore to where I am today. I have really improved over three years. I can only imagine if I had played my freshman year. I think I like the sport because it isn&#8217;t as popular in most schools like football, basketball and baseball. I loved the challenge because it is so different with all the rules and technicalities.&#8221;</p><p>After playing two seasons at Coughlin, Zbierski found himself at Holy Redeemer for his senior campaign.</p><p>He was coming off an amazing junior year at Coughlin where he was a second-team WVC pick and a first-team Times Leader selection. He had the reputation as someone who can swing from any spot on the floor, and had the ability to dominate by himself.</p><p>And now, the 6-foot-6 hitter was mixed into a Royal lineup with John Carr, Chris Mennig and Ben Rachilla &#8211; three other athletes that could change the complexion of any match.</p><p>&#8220;I knew that there was a lot of talented kids around me that even if I had a bad day, they would be there to pick me up. It was nice, and reassuring because I knew that someone would always have my back,&#8221; Zbierski said.</p><p>Still, it was a new offense &#8211; and a new atmosphere playing in the premier District 2 volleyball program.</p><p>&#8220;Shayne (McGrady) did a good job of developing Rob in his years at Coughlin,&#8221; Kablick said. &#8220;When you look around the state, most of the kids in District 3 are starting to play in third grade. We don&#8217;t even have a junior-high league here. How far he came in just three years is remarkable. He had to get acclimated to our system, and the way that we play defense. We play multiple defenses and multiple offenses. But he picked it up from conditioning and our regular practices. I knew he would because he&#8217;s an intelligent young man.&#8221;</p><p>Zbierski was second in the WVC with 154 kills behind Nanticoke&#8217;s Brent Piontkowski. In addition to 28 blocks, he also finished with 49 service points &#8211; playing in all of the Royals&#8217; rotations.</p><p>&#8220;I knew it was going to be different, and it was going to be a change. And it was a good change,&#8221; Zbierski said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know if I was ready for it at the beginning, but I just grew into my role. Everyone within the program really helped me to feel comfortable. In preseason, I knew that I had to work on timing within the offense because it was new. Everything just seemed to click faster than I expected.&#8221;</p><p>Now, the next journey of his life begins.</p><p>He&#8217;ll attend King&#8217;s College where he&#8217;ll major in exercise science and physical therapy.</p><p>&#8220;I kind of wanted to stay close and really turn my attention to my future, and King&#8217;s gave me an opportunity to do both,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Right now, I&#8217;m just going to focus on my future.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Holy Redeemer's Rob Zbierski is the Times Leader Player of the Year. 6/12/2016 Aimee Dilger|Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL061516BVB-AllStar2-1-1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Holy Redeemer's Rob Zbierski is the Times Leader Player of the Year. 6/12/2016 Aimee Dilger|Times Leader</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL061516BVB-AllStar1-1-1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Holy Redeemer&#8217;s Rob Zbierski finished with 154 kills, 28 blocks and 49 service points this season. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL061516BVB-AllStar1-1-1-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Holy Redeemer&#8217;s Rob Zbierski finished with 154 kills, 28 blocks and 49 service points this season. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Zbierski grows in 3rd year in the sport</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Fox</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Holy Redeemer’s Rob Zbierski the 2016 Times Leader Boys Volleyball Player of the Year