Girls Volleyball Preview

Connetquot returns five of six starters from last season’s team that made it into the second round of the county playoffs. With senior leadership in the form of middle hitters Lauren Weber and Michelle Wilk and outside hitter Nicole Hassett, Connetquot will look to challenge for the Large Schools title. With all-county performers Cassandra Auth and Andrea Chibbaro, and all-league selection Maggie Gould, Bellport is equipped to make a run at the Large Schools title. Longwood, last season’s county champion, will again be a competitor with seniors Shannon Kelly, Gina Goodrowe and Jillian Raupp. Sachem, Ward Melville, Glenn and Patchogue-Medford will be in the running for titles.

Among small schools, Port Jefferson is considered the favorite. The Royals have won seven consecutive League VIII titles and return all six starters to a team that finished second among small schools last season. The play of Kristin Risberg and Meredith Hindes will be critical to Port Jefferson’s success.

Girls Volleyball

Monica Marlowe had 11 kills and nine digs and Kristen Erdmann added 23 assists to lead Sachem to a win over East Hamptonin four games…Andrea Chibbaro had 11 kills to lead Bellport to a four-game victory over Commack. Maggie Gould added nine kills and eight blocks in the victory… Marie Johnson served nine consecutive points in the final game to lead Riverhead to a victory over Hampton Bays in three games…Kim Hoffman had 13 kills and seven aces and Katie O’Callaghan added eight kills and five aces to lift West Babylon over Hauppaugein four games…Jillian Federico had 16 kills to lead Islip over West Islipin four games…Vikki Buffa had seven aces as Miller Place swept Greenport…Shannon Kelly had 13 assists and two aces to pace Longwood in its victory over East Islip. Jillian Raupp added eight kills and five aces in the win…Lacey Musso had 22 assists and six service aces to lead Shoreham-Wading River over Eastport. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 22 Mar 2000

Elsewhere, Hampton Bays rattled off the final 30 points en route to a sweep of Shelter Island/Pierson. Lyndsey Simmons led the way with 10 aces and served the first 20 points of the 30-point run…Stella Giannaris had 22 assists to lead Riverhead to a sweep of Greenport…Shannon Kelly had 19 assists and Jillian Raupp added nine kills to lead Longwood over Hauppauge. Gina Goodrowe had five digs for Longwood. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 24 Mar 2000: 

Elsewhere, Kerri Overton had 15 kills and eight blocks, and Melanie Adomeit 14 kills and seven aces as Floyd beat Eastport … Kim Hoffman had 16 kills and five aces, and Katie O’Callaghan 11 digs and 10 kills to lead West Babylon over Longwood …Kaitland Cavanaugh had 13 kills, and Colleen Attard 15 assists to lead Bayport-Blue Point over Central Islip. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 29 Mar 2000

Longwood 10, Half Hollow Hills 9.  L: Schoen 5, Unser 3, Lynch, Barnett; HHH: Nolan 3, Fischer 3, Gmosher 3. Saves — L: Wachter 15; HHH: Rimmer 13. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 30 Mar 2000:

Longwood, the defending Suffolk Large Schools champ, and Hauppauge, the reigning Suffolk Small Schools champ, both lost. Brianne Vernam had 31 assists and Pam Gustafson added 15 kills as Patchogue-Medford rallied from two games down to defeat Longwood, 12- 15, 14-16, 15-8, 15-8, 15-5. Alyson Paquette had 11 kills and Kim Wilson added nine aces for Patchogue. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 31 Mar 2000

Connetquot Showing Championship Form: [SUFFOLK Edition]

Jason Molinet. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 18 Apr 2000

Longwood (6-4, 2-4) certainly found out firsthand just how methodical the T-Birds can be. Longtime coach Jackie Ammirato has just two returning starters back from last season’s title run, and her squad struggled to stay with host Connetquot.

In each game, the Lions made a run. In each case it was too little, too late. Connetquot led 13-7 when the 5-11 Weber, a towering figure around the net, closed out the first game with back-to-back plays.

First came a human wall that rejected the ball. Then came a vicious spike, one of her 15 kills on the day.

“She’s an awesome presence at the net,” Ammirato said.

Weber wasn’t done. She registered three straight service aces as the T-Birds jumped in front 6-0 in the second game. With seniors Shannon Kelly (18 assists) and Jillian Raupp leading the way, Longwood clawed to 10-6 and 12-9 deficits. But Connetquot regained its composure and held off the Lions.

It appeared as though Longwood would not go quietly when it took a quick 4-0 lead in the third game. But Connetquot went ahead 6-5, with Hassett serving up four straight points. The T-Birds pulled away from there.

“We have to step it up a notch,” said Connetquot coach Stacie Wixted, who won county titles in 1993, ’96 and ’97. “The last few matches, we haven’t played well. This team is looking to get to the finals. And when we play to our potential, we compare well to all the county champions over the last eight years.”

The difference between last season’s squad, which reached the second round of the playoffs, and the 2000 edition is threefold, Weber said.

The first is senior experience. All six starters are seniors.

The second is unity, as evidenced by the ritualistic chants. And the third?

“When we’re not having fun on the court, we’re not going to win,” said Weber, a basketball star who will play both sports at Siena. “When we play, we have a smile on our face.”

Weber knows true happiness is a county championship, something Connetquot has every intention of winning come May.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Hampton Bays 15,13,15,16Mattituck 2,15,9,14

Whitman 15,13,15,15West Islip 5,15,13,13

Sachem 15,4,17,10,15Patchogue-Medford 5,15,15,15,1

Longwood 15,15,11,15Floyd 6,5,15,8. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 13 May 2000:

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Centereach 15,16,15 Central Islip 1,14,1

Longwood 15,13,16,15 Sachem 8,15,14,8

Whitman 15,15,15 Bay Shore 5,10,13

Floyd 15,15,6,11,15 Brentwood 8,7,15,15,8 Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 16 May 2000: