Wantagh nipped in finals

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A convincing opening-set victory provided all the confidence underdog Floral Park would need on its way to avenging two regular-season losses to top-seeded Wantagh and capture its first Nassau girls’ volleyball title since 2010.

Behind Natalie Hickman’s 17 kills, and 16 from Faith Balletta, the third-seeded Lady Knights outlasted the Lady Warriors in a thrilling Nassau Class A final Nov. 9 at SUNY-Old Westbury, 25-13, 26-28, 22-25, 25-18, 25-18. Floral Park had won only one of seven sets against Wantagh in a pair of conference matches.

“A lot of our matches are like a roller-coaster,” first-year Floral Park coach Lori Lorusso said. “It’s how we play. This was just in stride for them. I think being in all the back-and-forth matches during the year helped them persevere tonight.”

Defending champion Wantagh (20-2) received contributions from many, including a dominant hitting performance on the outside from Jillian Graham, key points throughout from Rachel McCartin and Sarah Corry, and solid defense from libero Christina Weir.

“The girls fought all the way until the last point,” Wantagh coach Dan O’Shea said. “I told them how much I loved coaching them this year. I came in as an interim coach and they did a phenomenal job adjusting to me and making for a comfortable and fun situation.”

Floral Park, which upset No. 2 South Side in the semifinals, couldn’t have started the finals any better. Alice Brandt, who had 42 assists on the night, served five straight points out of the gate and for eight total points in the first set, which the Lady Knights led by a margin as large as 20-4. 

“That first set was important for their mental game,” Lorusso said. “They have huge tenacity, but when a team beats you 3-1 and 3-0 during the season, you need to find some confidence.”

Wantagh raced to a 10-1 lead in a second set that quickly became a slugfest. Behind Jenna Youngclaus, Floral Park not only caught up to the Lady Warriors but overtook them in the late stages. Wantagh twice was a point away from a 2-0 deficit in sets, but kills by McCartin and Graham extended the set. A block at the net by Graham (20 kills) won it.

The third set was tight throughout, but Wantagh never trailed after a service ace by Graham made it 8-7. Graham also put the finishing touches on the set with a kill off a feed from Shannon Hagan (32 assists), moving the Lady Warriors within one set of the crown.

In the fourth set, Floral Park seized momentum for good with 11 straight points after the teams split the first 12. It also picked up the defense behind Balletta, Kyra McNamara and libero Sheryl Matthew.

“They found openings and served really well in the last two sets,” O’Shea said.

Floral Park led 13-8 when the teams switched sides in the decisive set and never let Wantagh get any closer.

“We work well in basketball and volleyball,” said Hickman, who helped the Lady Knights to county and Long Island basketball championships last winter.