Perfect start for North Shore

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Fielding a solid number of returners for 2018, the North Shore girls’ volleyball team is off to a scorching 9-0 start to the season, already topping its win mark from a year ago by two wins by Oct. 1.

The Lady Vikings first match of the season was the only time an opponent has come within a set of this talented group. The win came against conference foe Plainedge, and that day was especially memorable for North Shore coach Tracy Iacovelli.

“I remember that opening match was the day of the heat index warning and we had to change venues, and we had to play, in my opinion, one of the strongest teams in the conference,” Iacovelli said. “We won the first two sets, but they rallied back and we had to close it out and win the last one.”

Since that day, North Shore has pitched five shutouts, including one in a rematch against Plainedge.

Although the team boasts seven seniors and returns all but two full-time starters, Iacovelli was not quite sure how she was to fill in the gaps of her graduates. 6-foot-1 starting middle-blocker Dani Bleiweiss has graduated and went on to play volleyball for SUNY Cortland.

However, Iacovelli was adamant that seniors Sabrina Romano, Lauren Lehane and Julia Vaccaro have all made an impact. “Sabrina, Lauren and Julia all have stepped up very nicely,” Iacovelli said. “But they also know they still have some great girls behind them.”

Amber and Jade Diaz, as well as Milagros Buschfrers have all accumulated a number of kills, digs, and aces for the Lady Vikings as well.

Iacovelli points to the team’s gelling and cohesion as one of the chief reasons for its success. “They really are all best friends,” Iacovelli said. “They have a best friends cheer, they have been playing in the same CYO and club programs and have had classes together since they were young.”

All of Iacovelli’s starters are currently year-round volleyball players. Despite all of the team’s major success, Iacovelli was careful to point out that they have still tasted defeat despite their ‘official’ record maintaining an ‘0’ in the loss column.

“We have played in a couple tournaments and have had some stiff competition,” Iacovelli said. In the Herricks tournament earlier this year, North Shore was matched up with Long Island girls volleyball perennial powerhouse South Side High School, who took the lone two sets from the Lady Vikings by a score of 25-22 and 25-21. “We lost to South Side, who has to be a top five team on Long Island, in the tournament, and took Northport to three games but lost as well,” said Iacovelli.

“This motivated the girls to work harder in practice than I’ve ever seen and the mental endurance they have shown since is outstanding,” Iacovelli said.

Iacovelli doesn’t believe her team’s success to be a fluke or some sort of mistake.

“When I’ve been around other coaches I hear, ‘Wow you’re having a great season,’ and I guess we’re surprising some people, but now we will not be under the radar anymore. Now everyone knows,” Iacovelli said. “Everyone is gunning for us.”