Mattituck girls win LI Class C volleyball crown
Mattituck celebrates winning the Long Island Class C girls volleyball finals match between played on Saturday, Nov 14, 2015 at Suffolk County Community College West Campus. Credit: Bob Sorensen
It all starts with one pass for the Mattituck girls volleyball team.
The Tuckers clinched the Long Island Class C championship on Saturday with a win in straight sets over Wheatley at Suffolk Community College in Brentwood, and the theme after the match was that the victory wouldn't have been possible without adequate passing.
"The defense was amazing," said Mattituck setter Carly Doorhy, who had 16 assists and 13 digs. "They were sloppy at times, but they cleaned it up. Everything starts with the first pass."
Getting a clean first pass is something Mattituck coach Frank Massa preaches. For him, it's always been about the initial touch.
"When we start shanking balls left and right, then it's probably because we're getting lazy and not moving our feet," Massa said. "The whole key to our team is being able to get that first pass off."
Passing wasn't perfect against Wheatley (15-4), as the Tuckers found it difficult to close out sets. The first game, a 25-15 win, was the cleanest overall.
Mattituck (17-4) never trailed after tying the second set at 7-7, but several kills by Jessica Hastings kept Wheatley close until Mattituck pulled away, 25-20.
The same can be said for the third set, a 25-23 win for Mattituck. Wheatley led as late as 20-19, and it took clutch play from Kathryn Zaloom (nine kills), Meghan McKillop (20 digs), Madison Osler (11 kills) and Doorhy to finish strong.
This will be Mattituck's fifth appearance at the state finals in Glen Falls in six years.
"If I could do this every year for the rest of my career, I would," Massa said. "Once you taste it, you never want anything else."
