Top 5 Suffolk girls volleyball teams entering the playoffs
Taylor Marsh of Smithtown West is thrilled after winning the fourth set against Smithtown East on Sept. 26. Credit: David Meisenholder
With Suffolk’s girls volleyball regular season ending, the postseason begins Friday, bringing with it the excitement of a playoff push and a chance at a county championship.
Here are the top five teams heading into the playoffs.
1. Connetquot (17-1)
In a county full of talented teams, Connetquot may have the slight edge. Connetquot began the season by handing Half Hollow Hills West its only loss and then defeated Ward Melville in its penultimate game to tie the season series and claim the No. 2 seed in Class AAA.
Senior Alex Patsos is one of the top all-around players on the Island, flashing brilliance in every aspect of the game. Sophomore Gisele Trzaskalski played alongside senior Leah White last season as the team used two setters. This season Trzaskalski has shifted to outside hitter, giving first-year coach Louis Melfi a well-rounded and versatile group.
2. Smithtown West (14-2)
The Bulls are the No. 2 in Class AA and have already accumulated four more wins than last season. Smithtown West defeated Smithtown East earlier this year in a reverse sweep and suffered a loss to Hauppauge, both teams it will likely need to dispatch to win a county title.
The talented senior trio of middle hitter Taylor Marsh, setter Kalia Wheeler and libero Nicole Zarcone leads the Bulls. Marsh, standing at 6-2, ranks first on the team in blocks and kills. Wheeler leads in assists and aces and can also make an impact at outside hitter. Zarcone leads in digs and serve receives.
3. Half Hollow Hills West (13-1)
The Colts are coming off their first state championship since 2000, but lost Newsday’s Player of the Year, Mary Wolcott and All-Long Island second team member Alexis Pelis to graduation. Luckily for the Colts, the younger sisters of those two, Morgan Wolcott (outside hitter) and Veronica Pelis (libero), have been just as impactful.
Junior Emily Dantona and sophomore Ella Corso each played vital roles on last year’s undefeated championship team. This year’s group has claimed another league title and the No. 1 seed in Class A.
4. Smithtown East (15-2)
Smithtown East is the No. 3 seed in Class AA, but for a team with the talent level of the Bulls, that seeding is deceiving. East has suffered losses to Smithtown West and Hauppauge but has picked up an impressive four-set win over Ward Melville.
The Bulls have found the perfect blend between youth and experience. Freshman Skyla Sullivan leads the team in kills, while another freshman, Rosemarie Remsen, leads the team in aces and is second in assists. Juniors Brianna Cerullo and Sadie LaPresti rank second in kills and first in assists, respectively. Senior Lily Sullivan leads the team in digs.
5. Bay Shore (18-0)
The Marauders are the only undefeated team in Suffolk, earning themselves a League I title and the No. 1 seed in Class AAA. That seeding allows Bay Shore to avoid a matchup with Connetquot or Ward Melville before the county final.
The Bay Shore defense is anchored by junior libero and All-Long Island second team member Kelsie Kennedy. Sophomores Haven Mills and last season’s League II Rookie of the Year, Shannon Smith, form a powerful duo above the net for a Marauders team that has already improved its win total from the past season by six.
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.
