The Rye volleyball won three matches in five days to enter the final week of the regular season atop the league standings.
The Garnets dropped just one set across the three matches, sweeping John Jay-Cross River and Rye Neck, along with a four-set win against Eastchester, to improve to 13-3.
Seven seniors were honored in the 25-22, 23-25, 25-18, 25-13 victory Thursday against Eastchester, including captains Phoebe Greto, Emma Lunstead, and Valeria Medina. Greto, who leads the team with 183 kills, added a season-best 18 against the Eagles.
“I think the most emotional thing for me was that we’re on the last third of the season,” said Rye coach Geri Jones. “So, I know that as far as we’re going to go — as far as I think we can — I’m going to have to say goodbye to this group, and it’s going to be hard because they’re special.”
Lunstead led the team with 13 digs, and junior Amelie Modesto recorded a season-high 47 assists.
Another key senior, middle Olivia Lewis, remains sidelined with an ankle injury and is questionable to return for the postseason. In the interim, Katie Hillis and Audre Campbell have been called up from junior varsity to provide additional depth.
Campbell had eight kills against Eastchester and four in Rye’s 25-5, 25-21, 25-9 sweep of Rye Neck on Friday. The versatility across the team has allowed Jones to move players around in times of need, such as Lewis’ injury, and could help contribute to a deep playoff run.
“We want depth in every position, so bringing up Katie and Audre gives us a lot of flexibility,” Jones said. “To give them an opportunity to gel with the other players. I wanted to give them an opportunity to play in a game together … I think they both did a really great job.”
Even when the Garnets dropped a set against Eastchester – the first set they’ve lost on their home court all season – Jones remained confident her roster, from top to bottom, would step up when needed.
“There was not a point where I thought we would lose the game,” Jones said, “which allowed me to be confident in our flexibility to change some people up … I knew we were going to go in and finish up.”
The Garnets get a chance to avenge one of their three losses this season on Tuesday against Mamaroneck. They close out the regular season on Thursday at Ardsley.
