Smithtown West girls volleyball's Taylor Marsh leads comeback win over Smithtown East
Host Smithtown West celebrates after winning the deciding fifth set against Smithtown East during a non league girls volleyball game on Friday. Credit: David Meisenholder
Smithtown West played a third set that may contend for its worst of the season, but Taylor Marsh’s dominance helped orchestrate a brilliant comeback shortly after.
Marsh had 25 kills as host Smithtown West defeated Smithtown East, 25-17, 19-25, 14-25, 25-22, 15-9, in non-league girls volleyball on Friday night.
Marsh made an impact at the net and behind the service line for West in the fifth set. She had two aces and five kills, including the final point on a kill that struck a defender and went out of play.
“We were hungry for this after having our first loss last week,” Marsh said. “We’ve been in fifth sets before, knowing every point matters like it’s the winning point.”
Kalia Wheeler had 46 assists and Nicole Zarcone had 15 digs for West (6-1). Skyla Sullivan had 17 kills and Gracyn Catalanotto had four aces for East (6-1).
West jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the fourth set after Marsh’s kill. East tied the set at 12 apiece after Sullivan’s kill and scored the next three points, taking a 16-13 lead after Samantha Keil’s ace.
The fourth set would be tied on eight occasions. An error allowed West to take a 22-21 lead and two kills by Marsh gave it set point. Freshman Rosemarie Remsen made a brilliant save on a ball just inches off the court, hitting it over the net to save a match point for East. Marsh followed with a kill to take the set for West.
“We talked about taking things point by point,” Marsh said. “We wanted to view things through a microscope, not a telescope. Go for the current point, don’t worry about a fifth set.”
East dominated the third set, jumping out to a 16-8 lead after Sullivan’s kill. East went on an 8-3 run, with two kills apiece from Kaylie Castaneda and Ella Murphy during the stretch.
“The third set was horrible,” Wheeler said. “On the back of our shirts we have 'stronger together' written and I think today that really shines through. We’re able to come together and really rely on each other.”
East took a 6-2 lead on Sullivan’s kill early in the second set. Wheeler pulled West within 20-17 on her fourth kill of the set, but East went on a 5-2 run, ending the set with a kill and ace from Brianna Cerullo.
West took control of the first set, taking a 17-12 lead after Briella Fields' kill. Fields had four kills in the set. Marsh ended the set with a kill.
“It’s nice to have someone like Taylor (Marsh) to depend on.” Wheeler said. “My stats depend on everyone else finishing the play and she always makes me look good, so I’m going to keep getting her the ball.”
Christopher Matias covers high school sports for Newsday after spending time in Athletic Facilities and Operation at St. John’s and in Sports Information at CUNY York college.
