Wheatley tops Seaford for title

The smallest athlete on the floor had the biggest impact for Wheatley in the Nassau Class B girls’ volleyball finals as it knocked off two-time defending champion Seaford on Nov. 9 at SUNY-Old Westbury.

Junior defensive standout Irene Lountzis went on the offensive late in the second set, serving eight straight points to turn a five-point deficit into a three-point cushion, and the second-seeded Lady Wildcats went on to capture their second county title in three years with a 26-24, 25-22, 25-19 victory. Wheatley took the 2015 Class C crown.

“It’s the most amazing feeling in the world,” said Lountzis, who had 15 digs and led Wheatley’s serve-receive. 

Seaford (15-2), which won five of the previous six Class B championships, split regular-season meetings with the Lady Wildcats and held a lead in each of the three sets in the finals but were unable to finish. 

“We didn’t hit well enough today,” Lady Vikings coach Marie Savage said. “It’s hard because the girls didn’t want the season to end. They enjoy each other’s company so much.

“It’s tough to have just one day in between the semis and finals,” she added. “I thought we had an OK day of practice. We just have to give Wheatley credit. They earned it and did a great job.”

The momentum swung early. Wheatley held a 22-17 lead in the opening set when Seaford enjoyed its best stretch of the match. Senior Katrina Michels had three kills and senior Maddie O’Hagan served for four points, including an ace, and the Lady Vikings had two set points leading 24-22. However, Wheatley rallied back with four straight to take the set thanks in large part to the serving of senior Giavanna Papavero and net play of junior Sofia Greenfield (10 kills.)

Seaford’s biggest lead in the second set was 16-9 after strong serving from senior Lilly Kolodsinsky and a few kills from senior Tracy McSorley. It also led 22-16 before Lountzis put Wheatley on her back.

“It was two really tough teams battling back and forth just like we did during the regular season,” Wheatley coach Tom Greeley said. “We have an extra-special group of girls. They love the sport and play year-round. They brought their ‘A’ game today.”

The Lady Wildcats (17-1) had to rally from behind in the third set as well. Seaford, behind McSorley and seniors Kaitlyn and Jaclyn Grzelaczyk, led 12-8 early. Wheatley, which got 18 assists from junior Jamie Ryan and some key points in the middle from senior Mary Ma, eventually pulled even at 15 and never looked back after a Lountzis ace. “Irene has a wicked serve that’s tough to read,” Greeley said. “She’s super consistent with everything she does.”

Seaford enjoyed a big regular season and lost only five sets in the process. Three of those came against Wheatley in a five-set defeat on Sept. 28, but the Lady Vikings came back three weeks later and swept the rematch behind Melanie Cascio’s 14 assists and four service aces, and O’Hagan’s nine digs and four kills. The only other opponents to take a set from Seaford in conference matches were Cold Spring Harbor and Clarke.

The Lady Vikings knocked off No. 4 Cold Spring Harbor in the county semifinals, 25-19, 25-22, 25-12, on Nov. 7 with Cascio recording 18 assists, 12 digs and three service aces. Kolodsinsky added seven kills, 11 digs and three aces, while Michels and Kaitlyn and Jaclyn Grzelaczyk chipped in seven kills apiece.