Lady Owls looking to repeat

A year removed from its first county title in nearly a quarter of a decade, the Lynbrook girls’ volleyball team, once again, has high expectations. The Lady Owls enter the Nassau County Class B playoffs as the top seed after earning the Conference BC-I championship with an 11-1 record.

Senior Lara Liacona had 12 kills, 11 digs, and three service aces to lead Lynbrook to a four-set victory over Mineola to clinch the league crown. The Lady Owls dropped the first set, before rallying to take the next three. Morgan Smithwick had nine kills, 10 digs, and five aces, and libero Stephanie Milillo had 14 digs.

The win came just days after Lynbrook’s quest for an undefeated regular season came to an end, as the visiting Owls fell to Seaford in five sets. Lynbrook entered the match having won 12 straight.

Coach Stewart Ratzken looked at the positive side of getting beat by Seaford. “It’s healthy to lose from time to time,” Ratzken said. “It makes us reflect and refocus, and tells us that we’re not impervious. Losing reminds us that we have plenty to work on. We put it behind us and moved forward.”

The Lady Owls will meet the winner of the quarterfinal match between No. 4 Floral Park and No. 5 Island Trees on Friday evening at 6:30 at Great Neck South High School. Lynbrook will be looking to advance to the county finals for the third consecutive season.

Other than the bump in the road at Seaford, the Lady Owls were dominant all season long. The team dropped just two of 38 sets over its 12-match winning streak. In a four-set win over Seaford in early October, senior Shannon Wren had 29 kills and six aces. In a sweep of Floral Park, senior Rebecca Shear (41 assists) and Milillo (15 assists) led the way.

Smithwick, Georgia Krendel, and Aleksandra Ratliewicz are as dominant and intimidating as anyone in the county at the net. The three seniors announced their presence in a big way in an opening day sweep of West Hempstead with each registering six kills.

When the Owls met Seaford the first time around, Smithwick took over the match, a four-set Lynbrook win. She finished the match with a team-high 13 kills and added seven digs. Ratkiewicz was credited with nine blocks, with Krendel adding 11 kills.

While Lynbrook’s roster is loaded with seniors, sophomore Grace O’Dwyer has represented the underclassmen very well. O’Dwyer has an outstanding service percentage, and a terrific all-around game. She had four kills while helping Lynbrook to a rout of Floral Park.

Ratzken doesn’t mince words when it comes to his playoff expectations, “If we play our game, and want it enough, I’m very confident that the county is ours to win,” Ratzken said. “But we have to play honest. We have to bring our best effort. I’m approaching the playoffs the same way as last season. I expect the girls to win.”