Massapequa falls behind - and wins - again
Massapequa's Tyler Kelly (14, center), finds a whole in Port Washington's defense between Ben Adler (12, left), and Daniel Minicucci (11, right), during their game at Roslyn High School. (Nov. 5, 2010) Credit: Richard Slattery
The regularity with which the Massapequa boys volleyball team falls behind - sometimes big - and comes blazing back is enough to make anyone think that the Chiefs mean to lull their opponents into a false sense of security just in time for the double-whammy of Chris Husmann and Christian Smith, reminding everybody that no, these are still the county champs you're dealing with, thank you.
"It's kind of been our theme all year," Smith said, smiling, shaking his head, rolling his eyes, and clearly relieved it worked again. "I don't know why. Our guys turn it on in the end."
Turn it on they did - just enough to ensure that Port Washington's memory of the Class A semifinal at Roslyn Friday would be a lasting one. Top-seeded Massapequa (12-1) came from behind in all three games to defeat the Vikings, 28-26, 25-21, 25-21, and advance to the Nassau final against No. 2 Plainview JFK next Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Hofstra. Port Washington was the only team to defeat the Chiefs this year.
Massapequa made up a 22-17 deficit in Game 1, scoring six straight points to go up 23-22. Though Port Washington (12-5) regained a one-point advantage on a pair of kills by Daniel Minicucci and Ben Adler, the Chiefs tied it at 26 after a Vikings attempt went out of bounds. The Chiefs eventually won on a point-scoring block by Steven Woessner and Joseph Boyce, and Smith's screaming kill for the game point.
In Game 2, Massapequa trailed 14-10 before taking off on a 5-0 run thanks to four Port Washington faults and Ryan Rosenbaum's kill for the lead. The Chiefs eventually went up 20-17, led by Smith (10 kills, 23 assists) and Woessner. Smith's ace and Husmann's well-timed block won the game. When Massapequa went down 13-10 in Game 3, the deficit seemed entirely manageable. Indeed, the Chiefs took a 20-17 lead on two Husmann kills and never looked back.
"We don't enjoy it," said Husmann (14 kills) of early deficits and late surges, "but we know we have to do it."
Plainview defeats Syosset. After a Game 1 loss, 25-22, Plainview JFK (12-1) won the next three games, 25-12, 25-12, and 25-22, to defeat No. 3 Syosset (10-3) and advance to the county final next week. "I think they were a little nervous," Plainview coach Russi Villalta said. "They just needed to get into a rhythm." Captain Greg Rankel led the Hawks with 19 kills, seven blocks and once ace, and setter Evan Schwartz had 50 assists.
