West Hempstead rallies to get over .500

With the West Hempstead girls’ volleyball team .500 halfway through October, at a 5-4 mark to be specific, coach Jillian Sarro is taking it all in with cautious optimism.

“We have our ups and downs, we’re a pretty average team I’d say,” she said.

The Rams’ 3-2 win on Oct. 9 was good reason for more optimism rather than exercising caution, when West Hempstead pulled a reverse sweep after being down two sets, winning the last three 25-18, 25-18, 15-11 over Lawrence.

“It was phenomenal, the way they were able to pull themselves together, because that’s tough; volleyball is so mental,” Sarro said. “When you’re down two sets, it can be very discouraging, so for them to be able to have that more positive mindset and really push through and play hard, play the way that they know that they can play was really great, I was so proud of them.”

This was a symptom of a larger concept at hand – strong characters, all working together toward a common goal.

Setter Madison Cates is one such example.

“She always makes sure we’re positive and pulling ourselves together,” Sarro said. “[She’s also] making sure we’re getting the ball right to target to ensure the win.”

There’s also the likes of Anna Spatafora, an outside hitter, who Sarro described as someone who routinely pushes the team to evolve into better versions of themselves as athletes and people.

In addition to those two players are Elizabeth Poirot, a libero, and Christina Guerrier. “[Poirot] just always makes sure that she gets every single ball and that she’s hustling throughout every single game,” Sarro explained. “[Guerrier] is another girl who is passionate, always making sure that the team is uplifted and really hustling to every ball, always trying to get better every day.”

Dual-action player Tracy Ganoza, a right side hitter, Sarro described her as a hard working player who gets her accolades offensively and defensively. Currently she has 15 services aces this season, but that’s not all she excels at.

“Not only can she get some hits, but she’s also really great at covering and playing those defensive roles of making sure that the ball gets to target but also covering those blocks or and those hits at the front of the net,” Sarro explained.

Similarly, exists Jade Altidor, who Sarro said was her most improved player.

“[Altidor]’s really making sure that she gets those hits, gets those balls up on any of those digs, and she’s a great asset to this defense, too,” Sarro explained.

The mentioned common goal is not just some static object held off in the distance, meaning the route to the goals exist with course correction as the path of the season carries on.

“We’re always working on getting the ball to target and communication and that chemistry between players, and recently we’ve really been working on making sure we end the point in the volley,” Sarro explained. “Ending the point and looking for the specific spot to make sure that we secure that point to secure that win is something that we’ve been working on. We always talk about getting the ball to target, having control of our passes and those basic fundamentals that get us to winning the game.”