Sports

Girls Volleyball: Mattituck sees its chance for advancement smashed

JIM ELLIS PHOTO | Mattituck’s Laurel Bertolas (13) and Shannon Dwyer (20) crash the net for a block attempt in the Tuckers’ match against Eden this morning at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

The Mattituck girls volleyball team is competing in the Class C state final four in Glens Falls this morning. The Tuckers will play six games in pool play, two against each opponent. The teams with the two best records after pool play advance to the state finals tomorrow.

Suffolk Times sports editor Bob Liepa is providing updates from Glens Falls:

Millbrook secured the other spot in tomorrow’s Class C final by eliminating Mattituck from contention. The Blazers won, 25-10 and 25-12, as Audrey Ouimet knocked down 5 kills and Meredith Dignan added 9 assists in the two games. Brittany Keenan went 12 for 12 serving, with 5 aces.

Shannon Dwyer had 3 kills and 1 block for Mattituck.

The result leaves Mattituck facing Voorheesville in two games for what is essentially a fight for third place. Both teams are 0-4.
Update: Mattituck dropped the first set against defending state champion Eden, 25-4 and the second game, 25-11 to fall to 0-2 in pool play.

Mattituck’s first two games were humbling. Eden breezed, 25-4 and 25-11, as Heather Holscher, Kaley Ballou and Meghan Ballou put away 5 kills apiece. Lainy Pierce provided the Raiders with 16 assists, 4 service aces and 1 dink.

The first game was so rough for the Tuckers that they served only five times, and Eden’s Kaley Ballou didn’t get to serve once.

After falling behind in the second game by 9-2 and then 14-4, Mattituck strung together 5 straight points, prompting Eden coach Stephen Pierce to call timeout.

Do you believe in miracles?

Not this time. Eden returned to form after the timeout. Samantha Burgio served strong down the stretch, registering 5 aces among the final 9 points her team ran off.

Eden served 45 for 49 in the two games; Mattituck went 14 for 16.

Eden went on to take two games from Voorheesville, 25-11 and 25-13, to secure a place in tomorrow’s final.

1st Update: At 7:48 a.m., the teams marched into the arena to the playing of Olympic-themed music and cheers of fans.

Mattituck has a tough schedule against Eden, Millbrook and Voorhessville. Eden has won four straight state championships, six in the last seven years, and a record 10 state titles, a remarkable record. Mattituck was 0-12 in its previous two appearances in the NYSPHSAA Championships.

Public-address announcer:

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Glens Falls and the 2013 girls volleyball championships.”

Nicole L’Hommedieu of Mattituck was presented a Sportsmanship award.

Mattituck’s first match is against defending state champion Eden. In the first match, Millbrook won the first two games over Voorheesville, 25-15 and 25-14.

Mattituck has a tough schedule against Eden, Millbrook and Voorhessville. And the Tuckers’ first two games were not going to be easy against Eden. It could be argued that Eden has the most successful girls volleyball program in New York State. Eden has won 14 successive sectional titles, four straight state championships, six in the last seven years, and a record 10 state titles, a remarkable record.