MacArthur clicking with 6-0 start

For a second straight season, MacArthur girls’ volleyball has stormed out of the gates strong despite heavy graduation hits.

The Generals entered the week a perfect 6-0 despite losing six seniors from last season’s 13-4 team that won eight of their first nine matches a season removed from also losing key players.

“My anticipation for the year was it was going to be a rebuilding year because we have some younger players,” said 16th-year MacArthur coach Diann Sciulla. “With the time that the girls have put in throughout the off season and preseason they've surprised me and we are now six to know in a tough conference.”

MacArthur brought back three returning starters in seniors Arianna Feiler and Natalie Longobucco along with junior Ashley Renneisen. Feiler takes up the crucial middle blocker position while Longobucco and Renneisen are offensive forces as outside hitters.

Sciulla said Feiler, Longobucco and Renneisen have been a major reason for the Generals’ big start to the season with their leadership as tri-captains. She credited them for creating unity in the locker room this season, which can often be crucial toward generating a winning culture

“They lead by example off the court," Sciulla said of her captains. “The camaraderie that the girls have now has been something that we struggled with here at MacArthur for the 16 years that I've coached as it's hard to keep all the girls on the same page and keep the drama off the court and they have done a great job with that.

Junior Olivia Picarella has stepped up as the Generals' key defensive player as the starting libero. She recorded 31 digs in MacArthur’s 3-2 win against Roslyn on Sept. 10 by set scores of 27-25, 16-25, 25-11, 21-25 and 16-14.

The offense is keyed largely by the play of junior setter Samantha Cassano, who had 40 assists and 4 aces in a four-set win against Hicksville on Sept. 17. Junior Megan Campbell has also stepped up in the offense early in the season recording seven kills and one ace in the Hicksville victory.

MacArthur improved to a perfect 6-0 with a 3-1 win against Uniondale on Sept. 19 by set scores of 25-19, 25-18, 16-25 and 25-17. Renneisen shined with 18 kills and two kills while Feiler chipped in with 13 kills to go along with two blocks. Longobucco registered nine kills and one block in the triumph.

The Generals will look to continue the hot start to the season Friday at home versus Hempstead starting at 6:45 p.m. MacArthur then hits the road to face Sewanhaka on Tuesday and Academy Charter on Oct. 7 before returning home to host New Hyde Park on Oct. 9 at 6:45 p.m.

Sciulla said a league title in Conference IV is an attainable goal, which would give MacArthur one of the higher seeds for the playoffs.

“It is a competitive conference and each set has been very competitively played so far,” Sciulla said. “I think a league title is definitely something that can be reachable if my girls can keep the chemistry and keep the energy going.”