In their blissfully air-conditioned gymnasium September 5, the 2014 edition of the Rye Neck volleyball team brought the heat to the visiting Tuckahoe Tigers.
By Mitch Silver
In their blissfully air-conditioned gymnasium September 5, the 2014 edition of the Rye Neck volleyball team brought the heat to the visiting Tuckahoe Tigers. Coach Kristin Desio’s squad hammered their guests without letup, winning the match 25-6, 25-15, 25-6.
After conceding the first point of the match, the Panthers’ Juliette DiErrico served ten straight winners to ice the opening game. When the senior finally netted one, classmate Kaitlyn Pillig served another eight powerful winners in a row.
Tuckahoe pulled themselves together in the second stanza, but Rye Neck’s court coverage and finishing proved too much for the visitors to handle and they came up short by 10 points.
Even with frequent subbing of her whole squad, Coach Desio’s charges hung another pasting on their foes, sending them packing after little more than an hour with an overall tally of 75 points won out of 102.
“I am really excited for this season,” the coach said later. “The chemistry among the girls this year is very exciting. They get along very well on and off of the court and honestly they are the bright part of my day. Just such a great group and a pleasure to coach.”
She went on to tick off the team’s assets. “My assistant coach Katherine Kellner is a great teacher. And we have four seniors I anticipate will lead the team both offensively as well as defensively; they’re a solid support for our team in all rotations.”
“As for our defense, we’re led by our returning freshman libero, Samantha Yannuzzi, who covers the entire court with ease. Samantha was pulled up to JV as a seventh grader and she’s really come through.”
I asked her about the team’s prospects for the season. “We have a competitive schedule this year within our new league and I look forward to how the girls step up to the challenges.”
A better test of the team came the following Monday, when they traveled to Edgemont and shutout the other Panthers 3-0.