Glenn girls win Class B volleyball crown
Melissa Rigo #12 of John Glenn spikes a point against Megan Russell #11 of Seaford during the Class B Long Island High School girls volleyball regional finals at St. Joseph's College on Saturday in Patchogue, New York. (Nov. 12, 2011) Credit: Jim McIsaac
Glenn girls volleyball has made its march to the state tournament a yearly occurrence, something that is essentially preordained before the season begins. They do it with ease, efficiency and a collective low-key demeanor.
Saturday, the Spiders rolled to a 25-9, 25-6, 25-17 victory against Nassau champion Seaford (16-1) to capture the Long Island Class B/southeast regional title at St. Joseph's College. It is their 11th straight Long Island title and state tournament berth, which begins Saturday in Glens Falls.
Melissa Rigo had 11 kills and 12 digs and Jackie Malusa had nine kills.
"It would be really important for us to win states because we have five seniors graduating, and I think this is a great year to do it," Malusa said. "It would just be the icing on the cake."
For all of their Long Island success, Glenn (15-1) has not won a state championship since 2007, which at the time gave them a fourth title in five seasons.
The Spiders enter every season with an eye on states. Four years removed from their last state title, there is a roster full of girls looking to end the drought.
"I feel like since it has been so long, our friends, parents and all of us expect it out of each other," said Rigo, a Stony Brook University signee. "Our next goal is to go to the state final because we haven't been there in four years, either."
Added Glenn coach Kevin Harrington: "Obviously, that would be the most important thing for them. That's what their whole season is about."
Glenn had no trouble with Seaford (16-1) in the first two games, allowing a total of 15 points. In the third, the Vikings kept things close for a while before the Spiders pulled away, as a Rigo kill ended the match.
Then, the celebration began, albeit a low-key one considering the circumstances.
"I don't think anybody is not excited about it," Harrington said. "You are talking about somebody's season ending, so I think you have to be excited about moving forward."
