No matter what happens in the playoffs this season, the future of the Long Beach girls’ volleyball team appears very bright.
Roster turnover has resulted in some lean years for the Marines since they captured their first Long Island championship in 2018, but this rebuilding phase appears to be near its end thanks to some young talent that has helped the team build a 5-3 record at press time, with all of the wins strung together at the end of September.
The five wins is already one better than 2021 and two more victories will match Long Beach’s entire total of its previous two seasons combined.
“After we won that state title, it was a team loaded with seniors,” coach Kerri Rehnback said. “Now I have a good defense, I’ve got a great setter [and] I’ve got kids who can really score points.”
The Marines are still enduring some growing pains with two of their losses coming against conference powerhouse Massapequa (8-0), both in straight sets. But two wins during their run came in consecutive matches against division foes Plainview (5-3), the team they are battling for third place in the standings, and second-place Syosset (6-2.)
“It might not necessarily be about this year, but it’s about moving forward the next two years,” Rehnback said. “I’m happy with it.”
Opposing defenses may not be happy trying to figure out which Long Beach player will get the point opportunity during its possession since there are three with over 60 kills in juniors Amy Littman and Franki Kelleher and sophomore Ivanka Priymak. Priymak has also used her nearly 6-foot frame to record over 20 aces as well.
“She has a quick arm swing, she’s on top of the ball and she’s a kid that you can dish the ball to at any time and she’ll score you points,” Rehnback said of Priymak.
Returning junior Kelleher has already surpassed her kill total of 50 from 2021 and Rehnback considers her to be the team’s top offensive weapon who possesses the most powerful swing on the squad.
Setting up those points is sophomore Hayley Lipinski, who is back with the team after spending the last school year at Kellenberg. She showed early potential as an eighth grader with almost 100 assists, but more than doubled that amount this year and sits among the county leaders in that category. She is also the team’s top server.
“I can arguably say that I think she’s the best setter in our conference, without a doubt,” Rehnback declared. “I’m super happy to have her back.”
Junior Zoe Moller has continued the family lineage at libero left by her sister Anna and is approaching the century mark in digs this season while showing noticeable improvement in her ability to recognize shots, according to Rehnback.
Rehnback also lauded senior newcomer Mya Rodriguez for her “phenomenal” defense play and “fantastic” juniors Lindsay Roth and Hailey Cardiello for their production in the back row and serving.
