Unbeaten Half Hollow Hills reaches final

After dropping the third set, Half Hollow Hills, still holding a 2-1 lead, stepped onto the court with limited emotion and one thought: Wrap this match up and make it snappy.

So, it was with assembly-line efficiency that top-seeded and two-time defending Suffolk champ Hills clinched the fourth set and stayed undefeated with a 25-9, 25-20, 24-26, 25-15 win over No. 4 Northport Monday in the semifinals of the Division A playoffs.

For three of the four sets the frenetic pace of Half Hollow Hills got dialed up to 11 in a playoff game-turned showcase.

Chris Kaimis manned the middle with 20 kills, six blocks and three aces. Michael DeGrazia played the role of finisher with 16 kills and nine blocks. Libero Cody Lau had 17 digs after playing with the reckless abandon of a high-wire acrobat.

DeGrazia emerged as the go-to guy early, as his consecutive blocks in the first set gave Hills (16-0) a 15-4 lead. Then, up 16-5, he capped an extended rally with an emphatic kill that split the Northport defense.

"You have to get the crowd energized and set the tone for the team," DeGrazia said. "That's what I had to do."

Added Kaimis: "We've been waiting for this a long time. All the energy and time we had to wait came together at once."

SEE PHOTOSHalf Hollow Hills 3, Northport 1

Northport (13-5) would begin to chip away at Hills in the second set, tying the score at 11 before falling behind.

In the third, the Tigers had Hills on its heels, jumping out to leads of 14-8 and 20-16 before holding on to force a fourth set.

"Once we got that first game under our belt, we started to relax a little more," Northport coach Bobby Hamel said. "I guess it gave us confidence."

After Northport took the third, Hills regrouped, determined not to let the match rest on a deciding fifth game.

"We just had to take care of our passing and refocus because anything can happen in a fifth game," Kaimis said.

But the Thundercolts did not let it get to that point, regaining their first-set mojo and closing out Northport.

With Suffolk and Long Island titles in their sights, the talk of a perfect season persists. The Thundercolts downplay the run at perfection.

"We just play for ourselves," Kaimis said. "Our record doesn't mean anything."

Smithtown East 3, Lindenhurst 2: In the other Division I semifinal, No. 2 Smithtown East (18-0) overcame an 0-2 deficit in a 21-25, 20-25, 25-21, 25-10, 25-23 victory over No. 3 Lindenhurst (13-6). Tyler Donofrio had 20 kills, Dan Walsh had 13 kills, Matt Pellichi had 12 kills and Sean Baxley added 54 assists.

After falling behind 0-2, coach Kelly Aiello said the message to her team was simple. "Basically, you step up and start playing or the season is over,'' Aiello said.

After snatching victory from the talented Bulldogs, the long-awaited undefeated showdown with Hills awaits.

SWR 3, East Hampton 0: Setter Kevin Galligan led the way with 36 assists and nine blocks as No. 2 Shoreham-Wading River (12-4) defeated No. 3 East Hampton, 25-19, 25-21, 25-16, in a Division II semifinal.

The Wildcats, who start all seniors, are in the playoffs for the first time in 10 years, according to coach Mary Mitchell. "It was a great win,'' she said. "My whole team came out to play.'' Erik Anderson added 20 kills.

ESM 3, Sayville 0: In the other Division II semifinal, Ryan Brisson had 37 assists to lead No. 1 Eastport-South Manor (17-1) over No. 4 Sayville, 25-13, 25-13, 25-14. Andrew Wysocki added 14 kills, four kills and three aces and Ryan Brandow had eight kills and four blocks.

"I'm getting the feeling, as a coach, that we're starting to peak," Eastport's Bruce Stiriz said.

Eastport and Shoreham meet in the final at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Longwood.