Glenn tops Seaford for LI Class B volleyball title
Glenn's players celebrate the win during the Long Island girls volleyball Class B finals between Glenn and Seaford, played on Saturday, Nov 14, 2015 at Suffolk County Community College West Campus. Credit: Bob Sorensen
Mixed in with the smiles and cheers associated with victory was a long, deep sigh of relief.
Glenn led 2-0 in the Long Island Class B girls volleyball championship Saturday at Suffolk Community College in Brentwood before Seaford began to mount a comeback, though the Vikings eventually fell, 3-1.
The first two sets were close -- 25-19 and 25-18, respectively -- but Glenn led most of the way.
Glenn's Alexis Groark (15 kills) was behind the early success, and she explained why Seaford was able to climb back.
"We didn't pass as well as we did in the first two, and Seaford really took advantage of that," Groark said.
It was the third game that began to swing the momentum toward Seaford, as Erin Russell and Sophie Dandola willed them to a 25-18 win.
Glenn (13-0) coach Kevin Harrington, who will be making his 15th consecutive trip to states in Glen Falls, had one thing on his mind: avoid a fifth game.
"We didn't want to go to five [sets] like we did against Bayport," he said. "I didn't want to go down that road again."
Seaford (13-4) led 16-13 in the fourth before Glenn began to rally. Grace Cergol, who had 24 digs and 22 kills, had four straight kills, the last of which made the score 20-19, in Glenn's favor.
A swing-for-swing battle ensued late between Dandola and Cergol, with Cergol hitting the Knights to a 26-25 lead. They'd eventually win, 28-26, to clinch another Long Island title.
