Glenn beats Bayport-Blue Point to win Suffolk Class B girls volleyball title
Glenn celebrates match point during the Suffolk Class B girls volleyball final at Suffolk CC on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015. Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
It's rare to see the winning side shed a tear.
But that's what happened after top seed Glenn beat No. 2 Bayport-Blue Point in five emotionally charged sets in the Suffolk Class B girls volleyball championship Thursday night at Brentwood's Suffolk Community College campus.
Of course, Glenn had tears of joy and relief after winning its 16th straight Suffolk B title. It was an emotional win for the Knights (12-0), especially after a valiant effort from Bayport (13-2).
Glenn will play Seaford on Saturday in the Long Island Class B championship at SUNY-Old Westbury.
"I thought it was going to be like last year -- a five-game match ," coach Kevin Harrington said. "They played with a lot of heart. Bayport pushed us right to the end."
Grace Cergol was one of the best players on the court, notching 25 kills and 25 digs. Those kills were difficult to come by, as the Phantoms' defense at the net caused problems. But that wasn't going to stop Cergol.
"Just keep swinging," she said. "It doesn't matter how big the block is or how hard they're going to block, just keep swinging."
Cergol had four kills in a 25-21 win in the opening game. She had eight kills in the second set, but the Phantoms held strong and won, 25-22.
The third set was a convincing 25-12 win for Glenn, and it proved to be the only lopsided win of the night. Bayport came back to take the fourth set, 25-20, before eventually falling, 25-21, in the do-or-die fifth.
Bayport's Lauren Hansen had 12 kills in the first two sets, and the Knights eventually found a way to contain her.
Even when Hansen was piling up kills, Glenn's confidence never wavered.
"We always know we're going to come back from deficits," Cergol said.
Cergol had help on the attack from Alexis Groark, who had 21 kills. Cergol's sister, Mia, had 47 assists despite a slow start. The defense came up big late, led by Cergol and Camryn Ackley's combined 47 digs.
