Malverne focused on playoff push

Senior-led Malverne is looking to finish as the top “B” team in Conference AA/B3 girls’ volleyball and qualify for the Nassau Class B playoffs, coach Danish Nadeem said.
The Mules, who fell to first-place and undefeated Freeport, which is a AA team, in straight sets Oct. 3, need to hold off Cold Spring Harbor and Locust Valley to accomplish their No. 1 goal. Malverne is 7-2 and defeated both of those opponents the first time around the schedule.
“Losing to Freeport was inconsequential as far as playoffs are concerned,” Nadeem said. “They’re an excellent team with two All-County caliber hitters [Talia Gunter and Tayla Baskin] and we’ll make some adjustments when we see them at our place on the 17th.”
Gunter (24 kills, 5 blocks) and Baskin (22 kills, 5 service aces) led the Red Devils over Malverne and they’re 9-0 with a two-match advantage over the Mules and Valley Stream Central with seven matches remaining.
“Malverne battled and I’m expecting another tough match when we go to their gym in a few weeks,” Freeport coach Lolita Beathea said.

Malverne, which has 10 seniors, is led by libero Kristina Gray, middle hitter Sarah Boubert and setter Xiang Chin. “We beat Cold Spring Harbor in five sets the first time around after trailing 2-1,” Nadeem explained. “That was huge. We put ourselves in a situation where if we take care of business, the playoff spot for Class B will come down to the last match at Cold Spring Harbor.”
After dropping the first set 25-14 at Freeport, the Mules responded in a back-and-forth second set and rallied from a 19-14 deficit after an incredible dig by Baskin using the tip of her toes to lead 25-24 before the Red Devils, with Khamiya Hudson serving, scored the final three points to win it.
Gray, a returning starter, had 20 digs in the match and is averaging more than a dozen. “Kristina has really come a long way,” Nadeem said. “She plays year-round and pours her heart and soul into volleyball. Our serve-receive and defense revolves around her.”
Chin is a three-year starting setter and another year-round volleyball player. She had 23 assists in the win over Cold Spring Harbor. “She’s like having a coach on the court,” Nadeem said. “She’s very consistent setting up our hitters for success. She has great court awareness and knows when to attack.”
In the middle, the Mules rely on Bourbet, a lacrosse standout, and fellow senior Amira Douglas to make things happen. Both started last season as well. “They’re both high-percentage hitters,” Nadeem noted. “Sarah is a tremendous natural athlete and worked hard on the timing of her swings. Amira has come on strong lately and had 15 kills when we beat Lawrence.”
Other key contributors are outside hitters Hailey Ramsaroop, the team’s top server who sparked the win over Cold Spring Harbor with 9 straight points to open the match, and Annissa McKay, a key passer, and Lola Olaniyan and Samantha Frey.