In any language, this spells success

In some ways, sophomore Duong Sy is the most valuable member of the Furness boys’ volleyball team. The Vietnamese-born student understands and speaks Chinese, Vietnamese, Cantonese and English, and that comes in especially handy for coach Marv Lenetsky since many of his players hail from Asia.

And no matter what the language, Sy keeps it simple.

"I just tell them how to play and move on the court," he said.

Public League opponents don’t need a translator to tell them that Furness is a formidable foe this season. A look at the standings tells them all they need to know.

Furness entered yesterday’s game against University City, which started after press time, with a 10-4 record, good for fifth place. It means the South Philly squad will be heading to tomorrow’s Public League quarterfinals for the second straight season.

"This is a total team effort this year," Lenetsky said.

Furness would likely open postseason play at Olney as the final match-ups were pending yesterday’s results. Olney won the regular-season meeting, 3-2, with the Falcons taking the first two games before losing the next three.

Lenetsky said his team would be better prepared this time around.

"I think my kids progressed well during the season," the coach said. "They are better acclimated now. We transition well from offense to defense."

After losing 3-2 to Kensington in last year’s quarterfinals, this year’s group has high hopes of advancing to Tuesday’s semifinals and bringing some glory to 1900 S. Third St. Just ask senior co-captain Mark Wilson, the squad’s lone American-born player.

"We have a good team," Wilson said. "I hope we get our first playoff win before I graduate. We need a banner in the gym in one sport."

THE HIGH SCHOOLfor Creative and Performing Arts, the defending champ, is the favorite to win the Pennsylvania District XII (Public League) crown. The South Broad Street-based squad will head into the playoffs as the No. 1 seed, and host either Frankford or Lincoln at Palumbo Recreation Center, 10th and Fitzwater streets, tomorrow afternoon.

Furness lost the regular-season match to CAPA. Still, the Falcons consider the season a huge success, reaching double figures in wins with a starting lineup that includes one senior (Wilson), two juniors and three sophomores. They also don’t boast much height – all of their players are under 6-foot – but Lenetsky said the team compensates with speed, great passing and floor defense.

The team relies on the leadership of senior co-captain Jian Mei, the team’s tallest member at 5-11.

"He covers the floor well," Lenetsky said of Mei. "He transitions well from offense to defense and picks up the spikes."

Junior Xing Hua Lin provides valuable support as an outside hitter.

Many of the younger players, like sophomores Sovandara Thua, Chanthearith Thai and junior Yanquiang Yuan, are still learning the sport with hopes of making Furness one of the city’s top programs.

"I want to make us popular in the sport," Thua said.