VSS nets a dozen victories

Valley Stream South girls’ volleyball coach Stephanie Calzetta knew she would have the luxury of an experienced team this fall, entering the 2015 season with eight seniors. What she probably did not expect to find on her roster were three additional coaches. 

But with seniors Katie Shields, Nicole Cutrone and Melanie Morales, that’s exactly what she got. Not only did the three girls earn awards from the county this season for their play, they also provided plenty of leadership on and off the court for the team.

“They were like my three assistant coaches,” Calzetta said. “They were the backbone and the spirit of the team. If we were having a bad game, they themselves would pick up all the girls on the court. They kept the girls thinking positive, and brought them back on to the winning track. We would not have been successful with any of them missing.”

The efforts of Shields, Cutrone and Morales helped lead the Lady Falcons to a 12-4 record this fall and a third-place finish in Conference BC-2. This was a major turnaround for the program, which posted a 6-10 record last season. 

“Physically we’ve been there in recent years. But this year our team came in mentally stronger and ready to take over,” Calzetta said. “Over the years our girls have been playing together for such a long time, and that allowed them to kind of just jell and run themselves this season.”

Shields wrapped up her career by receiving All-County honors for the second time. Cutrone ended her four-year run with the team, by earning all-class honors. And Morales finished her third and final year as a starter with all-conference honors.

The Lady Falcons also received contributions from some unexpected sources this season. After playing junior varsity last season, junior outside hitter Britney Dunn made a major impact for the team down the stretch. 

“I was expecting her to have a solid role, but nothing spectacular,” Calzetta said. “But, in the second half of the season she made a big turn around, and really stepped up and started hitting the ball. She became real comfortable in her own skin, and really worked hard.”

Senior setter Ashley Cedeno was another player from last year’s junior varsity squad, who was able to be a difference maker for the Falcons this fall.

“I didn’t know how much she could do after playing at the JV level for three years,” Calzetta said. “But, she came in, worked hard and ended up being outstanding.”

After a memorable campaign, Calzetta now starts to look ahead to next fall. She admitted that trying to replace the seniors will be a difficult task.

“These girls are outstanding. I don’t know what I’m gonna do without them to be honest,” Calzetta said. “It’s a big challenge that the new girls are going to be facing, because my players this year— especially my three captains— set the bar super high.”