The Wantagh girls’ volleyball team won its 3rd straight Nassau County Class A championship over South Side in a thrilling five-game match November 10 at SUNY-Old Westbury.
The Warriors then dropped a heartbreaking 5-game match to Suffolk champ Kings Park, November 12, in an attempt to defend their Long Island Championship.
The loss to Kings Park snapped a 33-match win streak Wantagh (18-1) had compiled against Long Island Class A teams, dating back to the 2009 Long Island Championship against East Hampton.
The outstanding atheletes on this time show unparalleled dedication. Named county champions in 2009 and 2010, the past four years have demonstrated their drive and motivation to enstill pride in their fans. Every day at practice, the team runs a mile, conditions, and practice until their arms bruise. Coach Kate McKeefrey pushes her girls everyday, especially when the game is a make-it-or-break-it game, and it seems to be working. Their undefeated seasons can be attributed to the dedication, character, and determination.
Senior captains Jenny Ilibassi and Lauren Pennino are accompanied by junior captain Carly Simeone. They act as liasons between the coach and their team. Every practice, every game, you’ll find these girls pumping up their team for another win. Pennino, senior, recalls the last game of the regular season as the most memorable. She finished her senior year undefeated, for a second year in a row, and she was about to lead her team to playoffs.
Senior captain Jenny Ilibassi plays year-round. She has been declared All-Conference, All-Long Island, and All-New York State. Not to mention, New York State Championship All Tourney. Every time Ilibassi steps onto the court, her heart is right there playing for her. Her intensity and determination is not unnoticed, and she is a stand-out in making the crowd go wild. She and Pennino act as role-models for the team, each girl on the team has immense talent to succeed in volleyball.
Other key senior contributors to the team’s success were Loretta O’Brien, Gerri Sciolto, Jill Motschwiller and Shannon Kerley.
In the quarterfinals of the Nassau County Conference A playoffs on November 1, the Lady Warriors were down 14-13 midway in the first game. They finished out the match 25-14 and 25-9 to advance to the Garden City semi-finals game on November, 4, in which they continued to impress all of Long Island.
Continuing another perfect season, the girls finished off the regular season with a record of 14-0 in Conference A-1. Overall record, including playoff wins, the Lady Warriors finished off 18-1.