GLENS FALLS — With spots up for grabs in the state Class AA and AAA finals, Garden City and Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK each moved one step closer to capturing their first state title in program history.
Garden City and Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK each advanced past the girls volleyball pool play semifinal round of the state tournament on Saturday afternoon at Harding Mazzotti Arena in Glens Falls.
Garden City finished with a 3-0 record and will face Webster Schroeder (Section V) at 9 a.m. on Sunday in the state Class AA final. Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK earned a 3-0 record and will be up against Lancaster (VI) at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday in state Class AAA final.
“We came into this still feeling we had something to prove,” Garden City’s Teresa Gregory said. “We know we have what it takes to win, so we just put everything out on the court.”
Garden City opened against Warwick (IX) and trailed 7-1 in the first set. The Trojans cut the deficit to 22-21 after Giuliana Pamatat’s ace, but Warwick scored the final three points to take the set. Garden City dominated the second and third sets, winning 25-16 and 15-3.
“We’re all super competitive and have an intense desire to win,” Garden City’s Kate Scuderi said. “I feel confident in myself and my teammates going into tomorrow. We just have to want it more than them.”
The Trojans faced Yorktown (I) in their second match and dropped the first set, 25-21, but won the second, 25-17. Yorktown led the third set 3-0, before Garden City responded with a 5-1 run to take a lead it wouldn’t relinquish. Cassidy Wilde’s block gave Garden City the 15-11 win and a spot in the final.
“We got off to a slow start, but we know we’re capable of competing with these teams,” Gregory said. “Final sets are all about determination and we were determined to win it. We dropped a few points early, but that’s going to happen in this sport. We still responded strongly in a make-or-break moment.”
POB JFK trailed 11-7 in the first set of its opening match against Shenendehowa (II). The Hawks took a 20-19 lead and Bella Sallie’s kill gave them a 25-22 win.
“We know what our values are and we know how we perform when we play together,” POB’s Dylan Katz said. “When we play calmly, connected and trust each other, there’s no stopping us.”
The Hawks dropped the second set 25-15 and were tied at 14 in the third. Emily Novak and Sallie earned back-to-back kills to give POB a 16-14 win.
“We don’t’ play scared,” POB’s Jayden Tan said. “We cover each other well and play great defense. That helps us get through anything.”
The Hawks led Lancaster by double digits in the first set of their second match before earning a 25-19 win. They continued their strong play in the second set, winning 25-19 to secure a spot in the final.
“You don’t fight this hard and play like this, just to leave with nothing to show for it,” Katz said. “We’re all connected and with this special bond we share, I know we can go all the way.”
Christopher Matias covers high school sports for Newsday after spending time in Athletic Facilities and Operation at St. John’s and in Sports Information at CUNY York college.
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