Volleyball

Net gain

Monticello prevails in league win over Sullivan West; teams profit from the encounter

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY - Sometimes names are very revealing. While Monticello’s Lady Panthers showed their stealth, quickness, guile and ability to stalk their prey in a hard-fought league battle on October 2, Sullivan West’s Lady Bulldogs showed their tenacious, gritty toughness in a fray that netted both teams something to build on as they hit their season midpoints.

For undefeated Monticello veteran coach Karen Atack, the Lady Panthers’ unblemished record (9-0, 9-0 OCIAA) is not the focus. Atack has the postseason in mind and is relentless in her attempts to hone her team’s skills for the tough matches that the sectionals will bring.

After all, she’s been there and emerged on both sides. The victories are sweet but the losses are stultifying.

Atack knows that the team that brings its best game to the forefront at that time of year will emerge victorious. So while earlier this season she pointed to key matches against defending champion Cornwall, rival Goshen, the team that ousted the Panthers in last year’s Class A semifinals, Port Jervis and other toughies such as O’Neill and Burke, regular season wins against those teams, while gratifying, do not mask deficiencies that Atack still sees as pronounced, namely in serving.

In its three-game sweep of Sullivan West, Monticello committed 17 service faults, prompting Atack to promise more of her 30-minute serving drills to deliver what she considers the most important aspect of the game. Being able to receive a ball and attacking the net follow suit as priorities, but don’t come into play if you fail to get the serve over the net.

Monticello took Sullivan West very seriously, although in the course of the match Atack mixed in all of her players, making for some combinations seen only in practice. That made for some closer scores, but Atack wants her players to do more than chant “composure, execution and teamwork,” she wants them to live by that creed.

As the teams took the court for the first match, Atack fielded Jordan Kunis, Eryn Robinson, Samantha Schoonmaker, Ke’Arya Sanders, Chelsea Reuss and Pollyanna Palhano. Kelly countered with Cara Davies, Victoria Harman, Becky Cutler, Amber McGibbon, Brittney Gieger and Samantha Vandiver.

On the opposite side of the court, an equally intriguing story continued to unfold. Sullivan West is playing an inspired brand of volleyball this year. Coach Cliff Kelly has a host of veterans onboard, and his drills and the team’s excellent chemistry have yielded success. Although the loss to Monticello put the Lady Bulldogs just under the .500 mark at 4-5 (4-5 OCIAA Division II) that they will need for a sectional berth, the likelihood is strong that Sullivan West will have a regular season afterlife.

Sullivan West lacks the depth that many other teams have and, in some matches, fatigue has been a factor.

In the first game, the teams played close as service faults by both squads denied either team a run of points. At times, a ball served into the net, much to the chagrin of the coaches, followed an ace. Frequently tied, even as late as 16-all, Monticello pulled away with Palhano serving, following a kill by teammate Sanders. Palhano took over service at 20-17 and continued through the Lady Panthers eventual 25-17 win.

Atack changed things up in game two, starting Colleen Thomas, Alpeche Deluca, Jessica Uczarczyk, Kunis, Alexis Buckles and Nicole Keesler. Kelly’s lineup was the same, except for the insertion of Juliet Corcillo.

The scoring went back and forth until Kunis got on a roll with her service to put Monticello up 10-3 after a nice play at the net by Schoonmaker. Two more Kunis aces followed, leading to a total of four on the night. Vandiver’s service aces and good play at the net closed the gap to 15-8, but Keesler’s service advanced the Lady Panther’s lead to 19-8. Thomas had a nice block at the net during that run.

Monticello went on to win game two 25-16.

In the third game, Atack inserted one of her key weapons in setter/outside hitter Emily Drobysh, whose net play gave her team another strong weapon up front. But feisty Sullivan West would not be intimidated. A Davies’ ace helped Sullivan West to an 8-6 lead, but a kill by Sanders closed it to one point.

True to form, Palhano had another stellar night, but Monticello could not pull away. The Bulldogs would tie it up at 15 apiece, before a pair of Robinson aces gave her team a little breathing room. Sullivan West got within one at 22-21 before Sander’s service iced the win at 25-21.

“We still need to peak,” said Atack. “We still have many things to work on.”

Kelly was delighted with his team’s effort.

Sullivan West’s leading performers were: Davies with seven kills, four digs, two blocks, one ace and 18 points; Geiger with two assists, two kills, six digs, two blocks and seven points; McGibbon with eight digs, one ace and four points; and Vandiver with four kills, two digs, five aces and 12 points.

Monticello’s top performers included Palhano with two aces, nine points, seven assists, four kills, two blocks and five digs; Kunis with four aces, nine service points, one assist and two kills; and Reuss with four aces, five points, three assists, two kills and two digs.

Visit riverreportersports.com for an album of match photos.

Monticello rained shots on goal, but couldn’t find the keyway. In all, the Lady Panthers outshot Fallsburg 21-6, but to no avail.

The two teams battled to a scoreless deadlock through a pair of 10-minute overtime periods leading to the standoff.

Stant had six saves in the first period and Fuoto recorded three in the second. Hong ended up with 13 saves in the non-league game. The tie brought Monticello’s record to 2-6-2 (0-2-1 OCIAA), while Fallsburg’s record improved to 1-5-1 (0-3 OCIAA).

Visit riverreportersports.com for an album of pictures and more game details.