Clarke nets win No. 10

Clarke started slow on the volleyball court last Monday, dropping the first set in its Conference BC-2 matchup with Malverne, before rallying to win in five (14-25, 25-22, 28-26, 20-25, 25-18) to capture its 10th victory in 12 matches. The win helped the Lady Rams stay right on the heels of Wheatley and Carle Place, each of whom has started the season 10-1. The top two teams advance to the upcoming Nassau County playoff tournament.

Sophomore setter Erica Sandorf led the way with 20 assists against the Lady Mules, while senior middle blocker Marie Cotter turned in an all-around effort with nine kills, eight blocks and three service aces. “Malverne came out strong,” Clarke coach Janine Heilbronn said. “They were serving very strong, definitely on and definitely pumped for the match.”

Cotter, the only senior starting for the young Lady Rams, is also one of their most versatile players. At 5-9, she’s a strong blocker at the net but also has a knack for perfectly placing balls exactly where opponents can’t get to them. “She can hit it around or over blocks,” Heilbronn said. “She’s an aggressive, smart player.”

Freshman middle blocker Julia Cast has rapidly become a great complement to Cotter up front and tallied a team-high 13 kills in the win over Malverne along with four solo blocks. Senior Ashley Mancilla and junior Stephanie Costello have also contributed as right-side hitters on the front line. Kaitlyn Kieser combines physical strength with strong placement skill and is an offensive threat at the net. The growing team effort has not been lost on Clarke followers.

“From an outsider’s perspective, I’ve definitely had people, parents and spectators [mention the cohesiveness],” Heilbronn said of the consistent, well-rounded play. “They’re all very skilled and all of them contribute.”

Junior middle blocker Tiffany Winans chipped in with six kills and four blocks against the Lady Mules, and the latter stat is a clear indication of just how big a part of her game defense has become. When the ball is returned to the Clarke side of the court, libero McHaela Rotundo can often be found making a play on it. The sophomore’s quickness and toughness have made her a player teams must gameplan for. “She has grown as the season’s gone on,” Heilbronn said of the first-year varsity player. “She’s digging consistently in the back row and you can see teams trying to keep it away from her. It’s a tough job but she’s got the grit to do it.”

While Rotundo is in her first season as a varsity player, sophomore Monica Rosenberg is in her first season as a volleyball player. A healthy dose of offseason work has only helped Rosenberg hone her individual skills as she picks up the nuances of the sport. Junior Maggie Trotter has performed well as the first player off the bench, while eighth-graders Gloria Russini and Stephanie Bogda are carving out roles at outside hitter and setter, respectively.