Malverne hits double digits in wins

Malverne closed the Nassau Conference BC-II girls’ volleyball season with a rush, winning four of its last five matches to finish in the upper half of the standings with a record of 10-6.

“We made a good run for the playoffs and missed by one win,” coach Kim Rossi said. “This was probably my favorite group of girls I’ve coached in six years. They’re passionate about volleyball and had a lot of fun this season.”

The Lady Mules, who were swept only once in 16 conference matches, closed with a three-set sweep of Valley Stream North on Oct. 29, winning 25-22, 25-19, 25-19 behind junior setter Sara Robinson’s 10 assists and junior middle hitter Amanda Masson’s five blocks and four kills.

“It was great to finish the way we did and we’ll look to keep it going next year,” Rossi said. “The program has come a long way in a short time. We’ve been getting a lot of compliments from other coaches and officials.”

The fact Rossi is also the coach of the middle school team, which competes in the winter, has made a difference in the program’s rise. Last year’s JV squad went 11-1, and the team was competitive again this fall. “The girls know what to expect when they get to high school,” Rossi said.

With five of its top seven players expected back next year, Malverne projects to contend for the playoffs once again. Rossi said she’ll have a tough time replacing senior captain and setter Veronica Ferreiras, a club player who enjoyed two strong years with the Lady Mules after transferring from South Side.

“Veronica brought a positive attitude and club experience to our team,” Rossi said. “She’s a tough player who would go through a wall to get the ball and make a pass. She worked hard all the time and played through some nagging injuries. She was a great role model.”

Senior libero Shakara Richardson will also be missed. “She was our best defensive player,” Rossi said.

Robinson led the Lady Mules in assists and also brought a powerful serve to the back row. Masson, a consistent server and team leader in kills and blocks, and junior Danielle Hinds logged the majority of action in the middle. Juniors Karen Ulyssee and Sayra Velasquez were the starting outside hitters. Ulyssee stepped up with some big performances down the stretch, including a six-kill, five-ace effort in a four-set win over Glen Cove on Oct. 27.

Rossi recalled a four-set defeat to Wheatley on Oct. 12 as her most memorable of the season. “We had some great wins, but that match stands out because I thought we really emerged and played at a high level,” she said.