Glenn all business in winning state championship
Glenn players celebrate after defeating Hendrick Hudson in the NYSPHSAA Class B girls volleyball state championship at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls, N.Y., on Sunday. Credit: Errol Anderson
GLENS FALLS, N.Y. — The Glenn girls volleyball team had its 2020-2021 season end abruptly in April after winning the Suffolk Class B title.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Knights were forced to play a shortened spring season, and both the Long Island championships and state championships were canceled.
It left them wanting more. Something they called, unfinished business.
On Sunday afternoon at Cool Insuring Arena, Glenn captured its first state title since 2012 with a 25-21, 20-25, 25-23, 25-21 victory over Section I’s Hendrick Hudson in the Class B final. Shannon McGrath had 39 digs, 20 kills and six aces, Diana Muniz had 60 digs and Carmela Ciriello added 40 digs, five kills and five aces.
"We made it as far as we possibly could, and I couldn’t be prouder of all these girls," McGrath said. "We have played amazing all season and this was just the culmination of it all."
When the final ball hit the floor on the other side of the net, Glenn (13-0) rushed onto the court and a dogpile ensued.
"I am pretty sure I couldn’t stop saying ‘oh my god, oh my god’. It’s literally a dream come true, someone pinch me," Shayna Purow said. "There is no better feeling than accomplishing this with my best friends in my senior year."
Purow added 26 assists and 13 digs, Lauren Conover had six assists and five kills, Isabella Ross totaled six kills and Sarah Koerner had 15 digs.
The turning point in the match came in the third set. The teams split the first two sets and neither wanted to go down 2-1.
Glenn went ahead 17-7 to start the third, but Hendrick Hudson crept back. They closed the gap to 20-15 and then 22-19. The Knights were able to execute in the final moments and pulled out a two-point victory.
"These girls do a great job of playing under pressure," Glenn coach Nick Tremaroli said. "There may be times when they get into their own heads and lose a couple of points, but they always seem to keep fighting. They always seem to pull through."
"It was the most important point of the match. We knew we could get it together after falling in a bit of a rut, where we weren’t passing the ball well," McGrath said. "We had the strength to get back on track and just focused on what we needed to do and didn’t get ahead of ourselves."
Glenn faced Hendrick Hudson (24-1) in pool play on Saturday. The teams split their two head-to-head matchups, giving both sides an opportunity to get familiar with one another.
"We knew who their strong hitters were and learned what some of their weaknesses were. I think it helped us prepare and get that win today," Purow said.
"We finished our business. Well, at least for this season," Tremaroli said. "These girls have incredible drive and saw the prize at the end of the tunnel. They wanted to get it, and they did."
