Northport beats Smithtown West in five-set thriller
Northport's Andrew Lertora (left) Jeremy Thide (right) celebrate during their team's win over Smithtown West. (Oct. 14, 2010) Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
When Smithtown West's Ryan Joseph muffed a kill attempt that skipped off his fingertips and somehow landed in Northport's zone for a point, it gave West an eight-point lead in Game 1. It looked as if things were going to go their way.
Not so fast.
Boys volleyball matches between Smithtown West and Northport are never decided quite that easy. Yesterday's 25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 25-27, 25-17 win for Northport (8-1) was the latest example.
Smithtown West frittered away that 20-12 lead and whatever early-match momentum they accumulated as Northport rallied. "Once we went on a run, we just stayed high, and the outsides were on fire," junior setter Pat Gathman said.
Northport took Game 2, too, but Smithtown West recovered to force a fifth game before the Tigers dominated the final game to earn a hard-fought victory in Suffolk League II.
Gathman led the way with 61 assists and six digs. Senior middle hitter Matt Lertora added 15 kills and four blocks.
After being outplayed in Game 2, West (5-4) came back to win the next game, but they nearly blew leads of 21-13 and 23-17. Northport took a 24-23 lead in Game 4, then Thomas Ciocia answered with an ace to tie it at 24. Two successful service points later, and West had forced a deciding Game 5.
Northport played with a renewed purpose from there on. "Even after losing the fourth game," Lertora said, "we knew we could come back and win this match."
Lertora and the Tigers had experience doing just that.
Northport beat Smithtown West in a five-setter on Sept. 21, winning the final game, 25-19. Like yesterday's match, Northport almost blew a 2-0 lead.
"The last time we played them, the same exact thing happened," Gathman said. "So we knew what was going on."
After two five-set thrillers, West proved their mettle.
"Two five-game matches, with all the games close . . . these have been just great matches," Lertora said.
After two tight losses, West hopes to see the Tigers again come playoff time next month.
West outside hitter Ryan Mahoney, who had 21 kills and 13 assists, said, "We are equal teams, and any time you get equal teams playing against each other, it's just a great show."
