Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK falls in state AAA volleyball final
Addison Dove Of Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK spikes the ball against Lancaster in the Class AAA New York State championship game in Glens Falls, NY, on November 23, 2025. Credit: Stephen Weaver/Stephen Weaver
GLENS FALLS—At every clutch moment in its season, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK seemingly found a way to get the job done. The Hawks needed one more moment in the state final, but couldn’t overcome their uphill battle.
Lancaster (Section VI) defeated Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, 3-1 (26-24, 25-18, 18-25, 25-16), in the state Class AAA final at Harding Mazzotti Arena in Glens Falls on Sunday morning.
“They came out with a lot of energy and obviously, we tried to play our game, but things weren’t going our way,” Dylan Katz said. “We really didn’t play clean enough to compete with them.”
Addison Dove had back-to-back kills and Bella Sallie added another to give POB a 16-14 lead in the first set. Lancaster answered with a 5-0 run to retake the lead.
Sallie’s back-to-back kills saved two set points and tied it at 24, but Lancaster scored the next two to take the set.
Lancaster jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the second and led the set by as many as seven. Jayden Axelrod’s kill cut the deficit to 20-17, before Lancaster used a 5-1 run to end it.
“There were times where things didn’t go our way and we just didn’t let it go,” Emily Layton said. “We let things get into the back of our heads instead of just playing our game.”
The Hawks took a 13-9 lead in the third on Katz’s ace. They took their biggest lead of the match at 21-11 on Axelrod’s kill. Lancaster scored four straight but committed a service error to end the third.
“At one point, I was just thinking you definitely aren’t going to get swept at states,” Katz said. “That’s not an option, so just go out fighting.”
Axelrod’s kill brought POB to within 15-13 in the fourth. Lancaster ripped off a 6-0 run to give itself breathing room and ultimately take the match.
Sallie had 22 kills and an ace and Dove had 11 kills and a block. Katz had five kills, two blocks and an ace and Axelrod had 13 kills and an ace.
“This doesn’t take anything away from what these girls accomplished,” POB coach Brianne Knight said. “I’m sad for these seniors because they really deserved this moment. I don’t want them walking out of here with a sour taste in their mouths.”
Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK (18-1) won a second straight county championship this season and secured the program's first Long Island championship with a win over Connetquot.
“We knew coming into this season it would be a good one. We lost the LIC last year but had pretty much the same team,” Layton said. “We came into this game today knowing it would be difficult, even after beating them in pool play. It’s hard to beat a good team twice in a row.”
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.
