Thursday, October 1, 2026
It isn’t easy to make the girls’ volleyball postseason in Nassau County as the top team in each conference are the only ones fortunate enough to receive those berths. After a solid 11-5 season in 2016, many believed that the Oceanside Lady Sailors would be one of those teams.
That success initially carried over into this season as Oceanside jumped out to a 3-0 start, winning nine of 11 sets, but the Lady Sailors have since hit a bump in the road and are mired in a three-game losing streak entering October. They now trail first-place Farmingdale by three games with 10 matches remaining.
The skid began with a heartbreaking five-set loss at Hicksville, including a 27-25 loss in the final game. The Lady Dalers and East Meadow, which is also undefeated at 5-0, held Oceanside to just one set win in the last two contests combined. But coach Rob Kiley continues to preach positivity and a belief that the team can work its way out of the slump.
“The girls have been really good,” Kiley said. “They keep a positive attitude. We work through the peaks and the valleys and I’m positive we’re going to have a successful season no matter what.”
Kiley understands every aspect of his roster and his team’s strengths and weaknesses as he is in his second year as Oceanside’s coach after leading most of the squad behind the JV bench.
At their peak, the Lady Sailors have a strong array of hitters who can generate offense from anywhere on the floor. Juniors Isabella Ranieri and Gabi Dziwura, who had six kills in Oceanside’s victory at Freeport on Sept. 7, are the team’s top middle hitters. Seniors Nicole Kraemer and Toniann Gildersleeve provide the offense from the outside.
“I think we have a nice consistent group of offensive attackers,” Kiley said.
Kiley added senior Megan DiDominica is “leading the offense” as the setter and starting to show signs of overcoming a knee injury that has beset her in recent seasons.
“She has really come into her own this season,” he said. “She’s really flourishing.”
Senior Kasey Flavin returns for her second season as the team’s libero. Kiley said he has already recognized an improvement in her court awareness and her defensive game.
“The libero is always the unsung hero because, without them, the offense doesn’t get the points,” he said. “She’s talking in the background, she’s controlling the defense [and] she’s scanning the opposing team.”
The upcoming schedule provides a little relief with matches against winless Hempstead and Westbury and Uniondale, which as one win through Oct. 3. Kiley his hoping strong performances against those schools can put them back on track for a possible title run.
“I’m pretty confident we’re gonna go on a big run here,” he said. “A lot of things are starting to come together. The girls are positive and enthusiastic. There’s been a lot of team building and I really think we can make a run for it towards the end here.”
