Rye volleyball closed out its opening week of the season with a loss to Mamaroneck and win over Port Chester, entering Monday’s home opener with a 2-1 record.
Naturally, the team was disappointed to fall in five sets Thursday at Mamaroneck (25-19, 16-25, 23-25, 25-20, 15-10), but coach Geri Jones was proud of how her squad competed, battling back to take sets two and three.
“We always play Mamaroneck really hard, and they always play us really hard,” Jones said. “I knew that it was probably going to go five sets — we always go five sets against them. The girls played their tails off. It was a great defensive game on both sides, not a lot of balls hitting the ground.”
Stat leaders for Rye were junior Amelie Modesto, with 38 assists and six aces, senior Emma Lunstead with 24 digs, and junior Lexi Kessner with 14 kills.
Playing back-to-back days makes the Garnets’ three-set sweep of Port Chester (25-19, 25-21, 25-21) even more impressive on Friday.
“I was really, really proud of the way that we played (against Mamaroneck). I was even more proud of the fact that they came back and beat Port Chester in three sets,” Jones said. “Our girls were really tired (Friday), so I’m very lucky that we have enough depth on the roster that I was able to take kids out and give them a rest.”
Modesto’s 20 assists, senior Phoebe Greto’s 10 kills, and Lunstead’s 11 digs led Rye on the state sheet. Other contributors to highlight are senior Valeria Medina (9 kills, 6 digs), junior Margo Ehrenberg (10 digs), and Kessner (4 kills, 9 assists, 2 aces, 6 digs).
The Garnets have shown consistency and depth, getting contributions from everyone on the roster top to bottom, two signs that are promising for the season ahead.
“Against Mamaroneck, we had different standouts with our hitting than we did against Blind Brook, and then again against Port Chester,” Jones said. “So, the depth in our rosters again gives us the flexibility where if one player is getting blocked, we can switch them out, and then they can have success.”
As the resurfacing of Rye’s court nears its completion, the team is scheduled to host Harrison in its first home match at 4:30 p.m. Monday.
