Rob Steinberg, Dylan Missry spark Sachem North to LI volleyball title
The Sachem North Flaming Arrows' Dylan Missry cheers as they defeat the Plainview JFK Hawks in the Long Island Class A boys volleyball championship at Suffolk CC-Brentwood on Nov. 8, 2014. Credit: Andrew Theodorakis
The competition has gotten tougher but the story has stayed the same: Sachem North wins in straight sets.
The Flaming Arrows defeated Plainview JFK, 3-0, in the Class A Long Island Championship Saturday at Suffolk CC-Brentwood. Sachem North won 25-10, 25-15, 26-24, and has yet to drop a set this season.
Sachem North will be making its first trip to the state tournament, which begins on Friday in Glens Falls.
"We've said since last year, 'we're not stopping until we get here.' Actually reaching our goal is an amazing feeling," Arrows setter Rob Steinberg said.
Steinberg had 36 assists, Dylan Missry had 24 kills, and Matt Grace had six kills and seven digs for Sachem North (17-0).
"We prepared so well for this game. We just played together as one team to get this victory," Missry said.
"To play as well as we've played all year and to cap off our season on Long Island with a great win against a good team feels great," Sachem North coach Matt Rivera said. "I'm so happy for our guys and proud of how hard they played all year."
"The fact that we were able to win in three again is a sign of how these guys have dominated Long Island from the start of the season," Rivera added.
"It's such an amazing accomplishment, and to think we did it with our best friends is a great feeling," Grace said.
The Arrows finished the first set on a 10-2 run, and won by 10 points in the second to win its 50th consecutive set this year. Plainview JFK (16-3) did not go down quietly though, and spurred by middle hitter Allen Durutovic, the Hawks pushed the Arrows in the third.
The set was tied at 18, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 24 before Adam Bloomfield got a kill to bring Sachem North to match point. There, Missry got a kill to clinch the title and preserve his team's perfect season.
While Missry said his teammates would enjoy the victory, he added they would quickly turn their attention to states. "We'll be back at it tomorrow morning."
"We're not done," Grace added. "It feels great now, but we'll be ready to get back to work."
"We're now the only team left on Long Island practicing," Steinberg said. "I love this team more than anything and to get to practice with them for another week and play with them one more time is awesome. "
