Connetquot girls take Class AA volleyball crown
Connetquot players celebrate after the Long Island Class AA final at Suffolk Community College on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015. Credit: Bob Sorensen
Connetquot's Nicole Migliozzi was lost for words Saturday after her team beat Massapequa, which entered as the defending Long Island Class AA girls volleyball champion.
"I'm pretty speechless at the moment," she said after her team won the match, 3-1. "I wouldn't want to [win the title] with any other team."
Migliozzi let her play do the talking.
She had 42 assists and was Connetquot's key player in the win.
Connetquot's big hitters -- Cassandra Patsos (19 kills), Katie von Kampen (13 kills) and Mackenzie Taylor (nine kills) -- all benefited from Migliozzi's array of passes.
Sometimes she'd pass high.
Sometimes low.
Sometimes behind her.
But wherever it was, it was on target.
"The ball is always going to be there for Nicole," coach Justin Hertz said. "Our ball control is unbelievable. [Our hitters] know no matter what, Nicole's going to find them. She's crafty with the ball."
Migliozzi found von Kampen twice and Patsos once to finish off a 25-19 win in the opening game, but Massapequa (18-1) stormed back to take the next one, 25-17.
Fittingly, Migliozzi clinched the next set with an ace for a 25-19 win. The fourth game was close from beginning to end, but Connetquot (19-0) pulled away with a 25-20 victory.
Mackenzie Cole (44 digs) was integral in getting the ball to Migliozzi off the first touch.
Von Kampen and Patsos also were huge at the net, recording eight blocks combined.
"My favorite part of the game," von Kampen said with the smile of a Long Island champion.
