Even though he’s not the loudest one on the court, Logan Coady’s exemplary play has brought the Massapequa boys’ volleyball team to new heights.
“He knows what it takes to be a leader, a good teammate, and a champion,” coach Elissa DiSalvo said. “He leads by his skill and ability. He doesn’t talk a whole lot, but when he does, kids listen.”
She added, “That’s the impact he has on my program that is going to stick with us for a long time.”
The Newsday Athlete of the Week’s level of play was showcased on Sunday at Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, when he posted 20 kills and a block, including the match point in Massapequa’s 22-25,25-23,25-20,22-25,15-13 win over Penfield to capture the Division I state championship, the first in the program’s history, capping off a perfect 21-0 season.
Coady was named the MVP of the New York State tournament.
“I was in complete disbelief. The thought of obtaining a state championship has always been the goal,” Coady said. “I saw the ball go up to me and I knew my job was to put it away, then I laid on the floor in shock that we actually did it.”
“I remember saying, ‘if you set Logan, the game is over,'” DiSalvo said. “I watched it about 15 times already. Our team model was ‘to play as one’ in our playoff run, and Logan was a big part of that.”
For his senior year, Coady stepped up and mentored the underclassmen.
“Kids want to be like him,” DiSalvo said. “They see the type of player he is and the accolades that he is getting, and they strive to be like Logan Coady.”
It’s not only Coady’s teammates who have been learning from him, but other players from different teams have also taken notice of his level of play and even asked for a picture at his games.
“It’s a little surprising when they come up to me because I’m still a high school kid,” Coady said. “It’s a great feeling seeing that I am getting recognition for kids from different towns.”
In addition to his performance on the field, Coady maintains a 93 GPA and is a member of the Best Buddies Club, where he forms bonds with students with disabilities and participates in activities such as games, karaoke, and arts and crafts.
“Joining the club made me more compassionate toward others,” Coady said. “It brings us closer together as a community, and I always want to give back to the community and spread positivity.”
With the season ending, Coady is looking to continue playing volleyball for his club team and plan for his next chapter in life: attending college.
“With the season over, I want to focus on academics and volleyball,” Coady said. “Hopefully, in the near future, I can play volleyball in college and get a degree.”
Jonathan Ruban covers high school sports for Newsday after graduating from St. John’s.
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