BELLPORT VOLLEYBALL KICKS OFF WITH A BANG

BELLPORT VOLLEYBALL KICKS OFF WITH A BANG photo thumbnail101660
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 9/20/18)

Last year the Bellport girls varsity volleyball team finished with a 9-8 record (8-2 league) and fell in the first round of playoffs. This year they seek to continue the streak of consecutive years in making the playoffs and to be one of the best teams in League IV, as they have been the last four years. They have seven returning players: senior captains Jaelyn Conquest, Alyssa Mantione and Jamie Trowbridge. They also have Anecya Sutton, Tamia Lawson, Madison Baumann, Mia Suarez and Emma Bautista and have added Colleen Shaw, Sofia Gannon, Eva Colon, Samantha Rieb, Hanna Lupo, Isa-bella Caypinar and Emily Gentzel. “It’s always been a privilege playing with these girls; we’ve always had a good reputation for being a competitive team,” said Conquest.

Their first game began at home with a non-league game against Brentwood, who won one game last year. The Clippers won the game in straight sets 25-8, 25-21 and 25-10. Conquest had four kills, two digs, two blocks and two aces. Mantione had two kills, eight assists, five digs, a block and five aces. Trowbridge had two kills and four aces. Shaw, Gannon, Colon, Sutton and Lawson combined for nine kills and five aces. Baumann had a block and with Rieb, Lupo, Caypinar, Suarez, Gentzel and Bautista combined for 13 digs. With one victory in hand, Bellport was confident going into Hills East. Bellport defeated Half Hollow Hills East in five sets, 25-20, 23-25, 22-25, 25-16 and 25-23. Conquest had 13 kills, 15 digs, 11 blocks and three aces while serving. Mantione had 22 assists. Gentzel had 11 and 14 digs. Trowbridge had seven kills and 13 digs. Lawson had nine assists. Gannon, Lupo, Caypinar and Bautista combined for 14 digs. This was a good victory for the Clippers to gain confidence early in the season.

Their third and final game of the week was their first league game, where they played Comsewogue at home. They rolled over the Warriors, cruising in straight sets 25-7, 25-9 and 25-9. Mantione had three kills and nine assists. Lawson had two kills, six aces and nine assists. Lupo had four assists. Conquest had four kills and three blocks. Rieb, Sutton, Gentzel, Colon and Gannon combined for eight kills, while Caypinar, Suarez and Baumann combined for six digs. “Having the support of our fans and schoolmates will motivate us and help us rise to the occasion,” added Trowbridge.
 
(Courtesy of The Long Island Advance 9/20/18)