Newsday's Athlete of the Week is Bay Shore boys volleyball player James Huber
James Huber of Bay Shore returns a serve against Sachem North on Sept. 17, 2026. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
When the Bay Shore boys volleyball team needed an outside hitter, coach Mark Jensen knew he could rely on one person to fulfill that role.
That person was James Huber.
"You typically want your best offensive player to be able to score the ball," Jensen said. "He makes everybody on the court so much better because of how versatile he is."
Huber was originally a setter, and he was good at it too. He was named to Newsday's All-Long Island second team. But when he was presented with the opportunity to play outside hitter, he couldn't pass it up.
"I've played as an outside hitter on my travel team, but playing at the varsity level is very different," Huber said. "It's definitely a big change, but I do miss setting sometimes. But I'm ready to fill any role my team needs me to play."
The senior is excelling in his new role. He is among the top leaders in kills and aces on Long Island. He currently has 199 kills, 11 blocks, 49 assists, 98 digs, and 34 aces.
"It's tough to be told that you're not playing a position you're not used to," Jensen said. "That willingness to try something new and just excel at it speaks to his maturity and wanting what's best for the team."
That was on full display last Thursday when he racked up 17 kills and four aces against Lindenhurst in a 25-18, 25-11, 25-23 win. He then followed up with 19 kills and 11 digs to lead the Marauders to a 25-19, 25-19, 29-27 win over Commack on Tuesday.
For his efforts, Huber is Newsday's Athlete of the Week.
"He's been extremely entertaining to watch," Jensen said. "To watch him be a quarterback out there on the court and lead everybody makes my job a lot more enjoyable."
During the winter season, Huber plays basketball for the Marauders and was part of the team that won the Long Island Class AAA title last season.
"The best thing about basketball is that it always keeps me in shape," Huber said. "It gave me the edge athletically in volleyball because it helped me with my vertical and my footwork."
In addition to his on-court performances, Huber maintains a 103.04 GPA and scored a 1,490 on the SAT. He also tutors some of his classmates.
"I always set the expectation for myself because doing well in school is a non-negotiable," Huber said. "It's the bare minimum to complete your homework and show up to class every day."
Huber is part of Unified Basketball, and after playing it, he developed a passion for helping kids with special needs. He is part of ACE, where students build friendships with special-education students. He is also in the Peer Support club and Best Buddies and is part of multiple national honor societies.
"I wanted to become as involved as I can," Huber said. "It's not about the resume. It's about building friendships and connections that will last past high school."
Jonathan Ruban covers high school sports for Newsday after graduating from St. John’s.
