By STEVE SINISKI
Just when it looked like the Seahawks were ready to seize control with a 25-17 win in the third game, Ragone ripped off nine consecutive points to open the fourth set, including six service aces. Her blazing start led the Lady Jets to a 25-11 victory and a 3-1 win on the afternoon. The Lady Jets stretched their current winning streak to three matches, heading into an Oct. 12 battle with unbeaten Garden City.
"We lost to Cold Spring Harbor in their tournament final [early in the year]," East Meadow coach Patty Burnside said. "We played great. It was a back and forth battle, and the girls were able to re-group, re-focus and attack [after the third game defeat]. We were able to regain our composure and not fall apart."
Shaking off several attempts by Cold Spring Harbor to slow down her torrid pace, including time-outs and lineup checks, Ragone kept her edge as East Meadow beat its second Conference I opponent this year. Kayla Neill and Taleen Aghabekian each totaled six kills, while Jamie Wilen continued her strong play on defense. "We blocked a little and got our hands on a lot of [net] balls," Burnside said. "We¹re serving the ball hard and playing good hits."
In running up an 8-3 mark in Conference II, the Lady Jets are in second place on their side of the bracket, one game behind Plainview JFK.
The recent hot streak has been a result of better returns and a more aggressive style of play thanks to increased floor time as a unit. Neill and Aghabekian are each averaging six kills a game, while Wilen chips in with five. "We¹re starting to hit hard," Burnside said. "We¹re finishing games with scores. And [even though] we might not be getting the kills, we¹re making the other team continue to work.
"We¹re keeping the ball on the court and putting stress [on defenses], sending over less free balls and more attack."
Each passing victory puts another snowflake onto the Lady Jets avalanche of wins, and keeps them right on the heels of front-running Plainview JFK in the A Division of Conference II. Garden City sits on the opposite side of Conference II in the B Division. "It¹ll show a lot if we win," Burnside said of home tilt with the Trojans. "Garden City has beaten everyone on both sides. The girls are gaining confidence each time they play."
East Meadow will travel to Mepham for its final crossover match of the year (Oct. 17, 4:30 p.m.), before a grueling run of six consecutive division battles to close the campaign. Included are return engagements with Seaford (Oct. 21, 4:30 p.m.) and at North Shore (Oct. 25, 4:15 p.m.), a pair of league opponents that the Lady Jets are out to even the score against. "We play North Shore and Seaford, teams we lost to the first time around," Burnside said. "We¹ll see how much better we¹ve gotten."
Each earned a four-set win in earlier matches. The Lady Jets will also host Mineola (Oct. 18, 4:30 p.m.), whom they defeated in four sets in the Conference opener.
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