There was no crackling on the phone line when Keira McCaffrey said her stunning remark.

No background noise or muffling of other sounds, either.

But surely, there must’ve been some miscommunication or misunderstanding when Mineola High School’s star senior volleyball player answered the routine question: What music do you listen to to get psyched up before a game?”

“You know, I really really like ‘Come on Eileen,’” she said with a laugh.

What? A teenager in 2023 referencing the campy, not at all “motivational” 1983 pop tune by forgettable one-hit wonder band Dexy’s Midnight Runners?”

“I don’t know why but I like it,’” McCaffrey said, before even more incredulously adding, “I like some Abba, too.”

OK, so while the middle hitter/blocker’s taste in pump-up music might be extremely different from most her age, what is most certainly current is her phenomenal ability inside the white lines of the court.

A four-year player on varsity for the Mustangs, the 6-foot-1 McCaffrey is currently finishing off her career in style with another outstanding fall season.

Through the end of the regular season the 17-year-old has crushed 204 kills this autumn, while leading her team to a 12-2 regular season record and a share of the conference title.

McCaffrey has also recorded 50 blocks and 28 aces as Mineola enters the playoffs as the No.1 seed in Class A, looking for their first-ever county crown at that level.

“She’s the kind of athlete any coach or parent would ever want,” said Mineola head coach Yana Park. “She’s the complete package: motivated, hard-working, great vision and a great teammate.”

McCaffrey’s love of volleyball came to her at an early age while watching sister Meaghan, five years Keira’s senior, star on club and school teams.

Keira was the proverbial “me too” kid, tagging along to her sister’s basketball and volleyball games, and soaking up as much as she could.

“She was on a really competitive team when I was little, and I saw how much fun she was having at both sports,” Keira said. “I was torn between the two, but I was better at volleyball and seemed to like it a little more.”

Beginning with CYO volleyball when she was about 10, and now playing for a club out of Sportime Bethpage, McCaffrey and many of her current teammates rose through the ranks to form an outstanding team these last few years; in 2022 the Mustangs fell in the county semifinals.

And Keira McCaffrey said she learned a ton from her sister.

“Just balancing athletics with academics, and making sure I have time to spend with my friends and still working hard when it’s time to work hard,” Keira said. “When you’re a varsity athlete and trying to do well in school, too, time management is so important.”

For a volleyball player, height is pretty important, too, and McCaffrey’s verticals and jumping ability give her a big edge on the court.

“She’s tall but she’s also amazing at the read and tracking the ball so well so she knows where to be and where the defense is,” Park said. “She’s super loud on the court with her communication, and that’s important, especially with the setter.”

McCaffrey said the knowledge of her teammates and how close they are, having been together for years, is a big reason for her success.

But her dominance at the net is something other teams have trouble game-planning for.

“They put two blockers on her and she’s able to communicate and her teammates let her know where the opponents are,” Park said.

What does it feel like to crush the ball on an opponent with a spike? McCaffrey sheepishly said she sometimes “feels bad” for the other girl.

“It is exciting to get a kill, especially after a long point,” McCaffrey said. “And turning around to my teammates and seeing everyone get so excited, that is really fulfilling.”

McCaffrey’s volleyball skills are only part of her success at Mineola; she’s also in the National Honor Society (she’s the secretary) and is a vice-president of student government at the school as well.

She plans to attend Misericordia University in Pennsylvania, a Division III school, next year, the same place Meaghan starred on the basketball court.

“I wanted to find a school that felt like home, and a place that had a good business school and a good volleyball program,” said McCaffrey, who said she wants to go into business “or maybe the FBI” when she gets older.

“Helping others is really, really important to me,” McCaffrey added. “Trying to put others in front of myself is what I’ve always tried to do.”

That may be true, but if McCaffrey can lead the Mustangs to a county title, there likely won’t be anyone in front of her by the end.

“She’s our offense and our defense, and she handles it all so well,” Park added. “She’s just a kid you love to have around, and the other kids love having her around.”