Massapequa girls volleyball completes a three-peat in Nassau 'AA' final
Massapequa celebrates after winning the Nassau Class AA girls volleyball finals on Monday at LIU Post. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Once the final point was scored Monday night at LIU Post, the Massapequa girls volleyball team was able to check off not only one or two major boxes.
On this night, it was three.
For the second straight season, Massapequa had dropped only one set against Nassau competition. It also earned its 51st consecutive victory over opponents within the county.
But most importantly, this performance cemented another championship season.
Emily Keaveney notched 10 kills and Alessandra Heimbauer added seven as No. 1 Massapequa defeated No. 2 Syosset for the third consecutive season in the Nassau Class AA final, 25-13, 25-12, 25-11.
"This has been a goal of ours for many years," Heimbauer said of the three-peat. "We came in with a strong mindset, stayed together and we completed the job that needed to be done as a team."
Massapequa set the tone from the outset with both powerful hitting from the front line and a defensive display that showcased its overall athletic prowess.
Massapequa will return to Post on Saturday at 6 p.m. to take on Smithtown West in the Long Island Class AA championship. After the Long Island championship was canceled last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Keaveney said this was an opportunity the team had been waiting for going back to the spring.
"It definitely motivated us," she said. "Last season we were very unfortunate that we weren’t able to have one, but this season we’re given the opportunity and we’re just going to roll with it."
Massapequa coach Amanda Ostapow, however, said this unit has its sights set on a bigger goal — winning a state championship.
"That’s been our goal since day one," she said. "We got cut short last year and had a great team. We’re just out this year to prove that Nassau volleyball has got a lot of competition."
Heimbauer detailed the key to Massapequa’s ability to maintain such a high standard of excellence, and how it led to all three of those boxes being checked off in one night.
"We stay together as a team," she said. "We know if one person makes a mistake the others will help pick them up. And we have a positive mindset that helps out a lot."
