Monday, November 10, 2025
The young and hungry Elmont girls’ volleyball team is back in championship form.
After hovering around the .500 mark last season following back-to-back conference titles, the Spartans improved to 5-1 in Nassau Conference A-II after defeating Valley Stream North for the second time this year, rallying to win in four sets last Friday evening after dropping the first 18-25.
It was again the sophomores that keyed the victory. Setter Myles Campbell continued her all-world season with 39 more assists and four aces, Arielle Aifuobhokhan had 15 kills and Marley Gobern-Moss added nine.
Not to be outdone by the youngsters, junior Nia Massey had eight kills of her own and senior Philicity Casiano sealed the win with a kill before serving the match-point ace.
The victory continued a dominant stretch for the Spartans, whom are now 19-7 in sets this fall. Their only loss came to Floral Park on Sept. 16 — a match in which they won the first set 25-18 before falling in four.
Elmont coach Terry Ianniello said the team’s youth has been a source of energy and determination.
“We have a very young group,” she said. “They’re talented sophomores — really strong, very competitive, and they just love the game. These kids are old-school gym rats. When I say practice is over, they’ll say, ‘Come on, another 15 minutes.’”
The coach also credited the team’s athleticism and ability to adjust under pressure as major reasons for its success.
“We’re a very good hitting team when we swing,” Ianniello said. “I have leapers, jumpers, athletes. They’re learning where to place the ball, but they also power through and hit hard. Defensively, we’re making great adjustments because they can move.”
At the heart of the offense is Campbell, whom has quickly become one of the county’s most reliable setters. She set the tone with a whopping 51 assists in the season opener over Valley Stream South, added 43 more in a four-set victory at Lawrence on Sept. 29, and entered this week’s action with 216.
“She’s got beautiful hands,” Ianniello said. “She moves well on the court and knows how to dictate who’s getting the ball and when. It’s like having a quarterback who knows the game.”
Christina Bayne, the lone starting senior, anchors the lineup in the middle. “She’s my leader and my captain,” Ianniello said. “She’s the spark on the court — the one motivating everyone, keeping them focused, and leading by example. She’s the kind of player you want out there in big moments.”
The lefty Branch leads the team with 25 aces, 10 more than second-place Casiano and Campbell. Junior Rowan Christian-Campbell already reached the century mark in digs, with Aifuobhokban contributing 80.
Ianniello also praised her bench players as the “unsung heroes” of the program as they continually help the starters prepare for each game.
“They’re the kids in the trenches every day,” she said. “They make the starters better. The energy from our bench is unbelievable.”
Elmont’s next challenge comes at home against Lawrence this Saturday, followed by a visit to Valley Stream South Oct. 15.
