Harborfields Volleyball Loses Steam In Non-League Setback
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By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com
The Harborfields girls varsity volleyball team went to five sets for the first time this season in an intense non-league match Tuesday against the Sayville Flashes, ultimately falling, 3-2.
The Tornadoes lost the first set, 25-19, but came back for a 25-16 second set win. The third set was more of the same with Harborfields winning 25-21 to put the Tornadoes up two sets to one.
The fourth set was another back and forth affair with the Flashes eking out a 25-20 victory to knot things up at two sets a piece.
The fifth and final set was a bit of a runaway with the Flashes pulling out a 25-12 victory, and a three sets to two win over Harborfields.
Although the Tornadoes kept the lead majority of the match, coach Suzanne Legge said the loss resulted in the girls running out of steam.
“We hadn’t gone to five yet and it was an intense match,” Legge said. “It was a great match, they just outgunned us in the end. It’s unfortunate.”
Legge said senior outside hitter Alex Madden stood out in the match. “That’s probably her best performance to date. She was the total package,” Legge said. “She plays outside and moved into the right side in the middle of the game, switching her position on the fly. She really did a phenomenal job.”
With the loss, Legge said the effort by the team was one of their better performances for the season.
“We’ve struggled with a couple of teams and this was a great showing since it’s going towards the playoff run,” Legge said. “If we can play like this and keep this momentum, it would be great.”
The Tornadoes currently carry a 6-3 record in Suffolk League V, with victories over Hauppauge and Rocky Point, and two victories over both Comsewogue and Half Hollow Hills High School West.
Legge said the goal for the remainder of the season is to claim victories over teams that have defeated the Tornadoes earlier this season, including West Babylon, Kings Park, and East Islip.
“If we can win the second time around it means more for your playoff seed than if you beat them in the beginning of the season,” Legge said, adding that the Tornadoes’ plan this time around is to take care of business against their league rivals.
Last year, the Tornadoes were seeded seventh in the Suffolk A playoff bracket, but fell to Westhampton in the quarterfinals.
The Tornadoes were scheduled to face Hauppauge after deadline Wednesday. They are scheduled to face West Babylon on Friday at 5:45 p.m. at West Babylon High School.
