Yorktown (3-2) did a great job serving in its game against Peekskill and thus was able to take home a 3-0 (25-5, 25-11, 25-11) victory against the visiting Red Devils Monday afternoon.
“I thought we played pretty well,” Yorktown coach Katy Sherwood said. “We served excellent so I would attribute the victory to our serving.”
In the opening game Husker senior co-captain Erin Sweeney served the host to 20 straight points to close out the opening game, which the Huskers won 25-5.
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“After that we started to get a couple of volleys, we started to play a little bit better,” Peekskill coach John Pappas said.
That improved play came in the beginning of the second game, which was tied at 6-6.
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“The beginning is always tough,” Sherwood said. “You have to find your spot where you can take control of the game, go ahead and take a comfortable lead.”
Yorktown did just that as Heather Raniolo served 11 straight points, giving the Huskers a 17-6 advantage in a game they would win 25-11.
Raniolo is part of a senior class that Sherwood is very happy to have the opportunity to coach.
“All my seniors: Erin Sweeney, Mallory Eliasson, Heather Raniolo, Sam Strebel, Mariah Raniolo, they are all strong players,” Sherwood said. “I expect them to lead the team this year.”
Peekskill (0-3) does not have the advantage of experience, as its team is very young. Its youth showed in the third game, which the Huskers won to sweep the match 25-11.
“Every game we are just trying to do a couple of things better each time,” Pappas said.
“We are trying to build for next year and the year after. We knew this year was going to be a tough year, we lost everybody but two kids from last year so we are building.”
Helping Peekskill in that building process is co-captain Sydney Taylor.
“Sydney Taylor is doing a pretty good job as our setter,” Pappas said. “She didn’t set last year, she just played back row. She stepped in, she’s setting this year and is getting to a lot of balls, getting a lot of good sets up. If we can get some better passes to her, she’ll do a better job.”
Taylor, along with other key Red Devils -Latisha Clark, Shaina Iton, Dottie Bradshaw and Morgan Beechum-will look for their first win of the year at Dover at 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 21.
Also at that same day and time, Yorktown will travel to face Hendrick Hudson, which has won 11 sectional championships in a row.
Stat City
Peekskill
Sydney Taylor-five assists, two aces, one dig.
Morgan Beechum-two kills, two digs.
Dottie Bradshaw-three kills.
Shaina Iton-one kill, two digs, one block.
Latisha Clark-one kill, one block.
Paige Hill-three digs.
Afua Yeboah-two aces, one dig.
Yorktown
Heather Raniolo-two assists, four aces.
Sam Strebel-one kill, four assists, two aces, one dig, one block.
Erin Sweeney-10 aces.
Mallory Eliasson-one kill.
Angelea McPartlin-two digs, one block.
Fiona O’Connor-one assist.
Danielle DeIulio-two kills, three assists.
Jessica Figueroa-two kills.
Megan Figueroa-two aces, one dig.
Anna Popolla-two kills, one dig.
Mariah Raniolo-three kills, one dig.
Michelle Rufino-one kill, two assists, two aces.
Kristen Sweeney-two kills, one ace, one dig.
