RSS 2.0 FeedThursday, November 17, 2011, Wantagh Seaford Citizen
Volleyball: Third straight title
Wantagh takes down South Side.
Wantagh Volleball Seniors: Top to bottom, left to right, seniors Loretta O’Brien, Gerri Sciolto, Jill Motschwiller, Shannon Kerley, Jenny Ilibassi and Lauren Pennino.
Wantagh’s decade-long run of dominance in girls’ volleyball continued as the Warriors won their third consecutive Nassau County Class A title, defeating South Side in a thrilling five-game match last week at SUNY-Old Westbury. The Warriors then took on Suffolk champ Kings Park November 12, with the winner advancing to the state tournament.
Wantagh (18-0) has not lost to a Long Island Class A team in nearly 40 matches, dating back to a regular season defeat to Bellmore JFK in 2009.
“Every player on this team has seen the court this season,” said Wantagh head coach Katie McKeefrey, who has now won three Nassau titles in three years as coach. “We live as a team, we win as a team and every player has a role.”
The Warriors had beaten South Side 3-0, 3-0 during the regular season. But McKeefrey said the Cyclones improved dramatically as the season went on.
With everything on the line Ms. McKeefrey said it was senior Jenny Ilibassi who inspired the team going into the fifth-and-deciding game. “Jenny told her teammates, ‘This could be my last match.’ That was a wake up call.”
Junior Carly Simeone helped lead the Wantagh rally in the fifth game. “Carly runs the court,” said Coach McKeefrey. “Without her our system wouldn’t work.”
Jenny had 19 kills and senior Lauren Pennino had 10 kills to lead the Warriors.
To get to the finals Wantagh swept Great Neck South, 3-0, and then defeated Garden City, 3-1. Coach McKeefrey also cited the play of liberos [rovers] Christina Ellul and Gerri Sciolto and defensive specialists Jen Lipski and Loretta O’Brien. She said sophomore Gabi DiMeglio had a big impact in the Garden City semifinal as a hitter on the outside.
– PK
