Monday, November 10, 2025
MacArthur’s girls’ volleyball team has displayed grit this season as it battles for a conference title.
After suffering a heartbreaking early season five-set defeat to Bethpage on Sept. 11, the Generals dug in to win their next six matches to enter the home stretch in position to attain the lone playoff berth in Conference AA2. Longtime MacArthur coach Diann Sciulla credited her nine seniors with providing strong leadership skills on and off the court to arm the team with a winning mentality.
“The seniors have really come together whether they're my starters or my girls on the sideline,” said Sciulla, who has three full-time senior starters and six who sub in when needed. “All of them have continued to work hard in the event that they do get in. There's not one player that I wouldn't be able to count on.”
MacArthur (9-2) nearly atoned for its earlier loss to Bethpage when it jumped out to a two-set lead against the Eagles on Columbus Day before dropping the final three games in another 3-2 heartbreaker to its neighbors to the north. The Generals entered the match in a three-way tie with Bethpage and Jericho atop the league standings.
The Generals have been boosted by the steady senior play of setter Samantha Cassano and middle blocker Meaghan Campbell. Both stepped up big in MacArthur’s 3-1 win at Roslyn on Sept. 30 with Campbell recording seven kills and six blocks while Cassano registered 23 digs.
Casso also stepped up big in a crucial 3-1 home win against previously unbeaten Jericho on Oct. 4 with 28 assists, 10 digs, one ace and two kills. Gabby Nicolini also stepped up big in the critical match with 10 kills to keep Generals’ conference title hopes alive.
Senior libero Olivia Picarella has once again been the Generals’ key defensive player this season after making big strides last year as a junior. She registered 11 digs and two assists in MacArthur’s four-set triumph against Jericho on Oct. 4.
Freshman Carolina O'Conner has also stepped up at the libero position in her first season on variety and had 11 digs along with three aces in the Jericho match.
Sophomore middle hitter Liliana Look was a crucial part of the Generals’ early season success before she was sidelined by an ankle injury in the Roslyn match. Freshman Atheana Alevreas was called up from junior varsity to take over Look’s spot and helped the Generals continue their winning form in the ensuing Jericho match.
“The girls really came together and through motivation and communication they were able to really compete against a team like Jericho,” Sciulla said. “Even with the injury that we had they figured it out on the court and they came to play.”
MacArthur visits Roosevelt this Thursday before hosting Glen Cove on next Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. The General’s final home match is scheduled for Oct. 25 at 11:45 a.m. with the regular season finale on tap for Oct 28 at Jericho.
