Hey everyone,

I will be travelling up to Glens Falls in a bit for coverage of the state volleyball final four. Casey will be coming too and we will have everything you want to know about the happenings at the Glens Falls Civic Center right here.

I had a preview of the final weekend of the high school volleyball season in today’s paper. Check it out for more info.

In the meantime, a reminder of the schedule. Westlake (Class C) and Haldane (Class D) will begin play in the early wave of pool play that will get under way at 9 a.m. Hen Hud (Class B) will begin playing in the afternoon wave that begins at 3:30 p.m.

Okay, time to pack and hit the road. If you’re coming make sure to bring plenty of warm clothes. You may be inside, but the civic center is the coldest building on earth. It’s science…

Once again, if you’re not making the voyage north, we will have updates and wrapups throughout the weekend. So keep it tuned here!

Okay, the presidential may have wrapped up nearly a week ago, but you can still vote.

For the Gameday Central Gameface of the Week that is.

Volleyball is represented by Suffern’s Josheph Albarelli.  I don’t exactly know what he’s doing but it looks like a mix between getting out of the way and posing for a spread in Vogue magazine.

And while you’re out there voting, chime in with your thoughts on regionals and upcoming states. It’s amazing to think I’m going to go five full days without seeing any volleyball, but in the meantime, we can still talk about it!

Okay, time to hit the road. Looks like I should make it back in time for the kickoff of the Giants game after all. 

It was another successful day for Section 1 with two more teams advancing to the state final four. For a second straight year and for my second year covering h.s. volleyball, the section will have three teams at Glen Falls competing for a state title.  I guess I’m a pretty good luck charm… 

Let me know how you think things will play out. Back with more later!

Game 4 update: Cornwall took a thrilling fourth game, 25-23. The Dragons won the match 3-1 and they will move onto the state final four at Glens Falls next weekend. 

Game 3 update: Fox Lane has some life in it after all. The Foxes won game three 25-20 and are now down 2-1 in the match. 

Game 2 update: Things do not look good for Fox Lane. Corwall cruised to a 25-11 win in game two and now holds a commanding 2-0 lead. The Dragons won the final nine points of the set. 

Game 1 update:  Fox Lane just dropped the first game 25-22. The Foxes had rallied to take a lead, but the Dragons responded with five straight points to end it. Fox Lane definitely has its hands full with Cornwalls’ Alex Gagliano, who is dominating play in the middle.

This match just got underway. I’ll be here to provide updates after every game. Back in a bit!

Third game update: Westlake wins 25-20 to close out the match 3-0. A very impressive victory for the Wildcats who will head back to Glens Falls for the state final four next weekend. Back with more later. 

Second game update: Westlake continues to roll. The Wildcats won game two 25-13 and now hold a commanding 2-0 lead over the Blazers.

First game update: Westlake just took the first game 25-16. The Wildcats trailed 6-1 and 10-5, but finished on a 14-4 run. 

1:40 p.m.: Hey everyone. I’m all set up at the media table and we’re about 10 minutes away from starting this match.

Pine Bush’s dramatic 3-2 win over Horseheads in the Class AA game before has put everything behind schedule for the rest of the day, but hey, that’s volleyball.

Hen Hud made quick work of Red Hook in the early match that Casey covered. I just talked with our photographer, Seth, and he was very impressed with the play of Kami Nethersole. Who isn’t though? After all, she’s earned the nickname of the K-TRAIN.

It’s nice to see that the Sailors, at least a large portion of them, have stuck around to cheer on their fellow Section 1 teams. Okay back with an update after the first game.

10:35 a.m. – Hen Hud is going to states with a 25-11 win in the third game.

Alex will be here later to give you updates on the Westlake and Fox Lane games.

I’m going home to watch the Jets game.

10:30 a.m. - Sailors went up 18-11. Stephanie Gmeiner is in off the bench to serve. Make that 19-11 with a short hit by the K-train set up by librero Kristin Pelaccio.

10:25 a.m. - Full power is back on in the gym. The scoreboard is finally working. The Sailors are up 11-8 after seven service points by Tamburri and a side out by the Raiders.

10:23 a.m. - Time out called. The Sailors have tied the game at 7-7. Tamburri is serving.

10:20 a.m. - Hen Hud is getting a little sloppy in the third game. They are down  4-2 early on but Kami is up to serve.

10:15 a.m. - The Sailors cruised through the second game 25-14.
10:11 a.m. - Sailors are making a run of it up 20-13. The Nethersoles are rocking this match. Kami is big at the net while Sareeta’s serving is really making a difference for the Sailors.

10:07 a.m. - The Sailors are up 14-8.

10 a.m.  - The Sailors are out to a quick 5-1 lead under the serving of Sareeta Nethersole. The Hen Hud fans are serenading her.

Red Hook has lost their momentum with the loss of their starting setter. They are going to need to pick it up to stay with the Sailors.

9:54 a.m. - Sailors finished out the game with ease, 25-15.

9:51 a.m. -The match is about to resume. Samantha Rapoli steps in for the Raiders at setter. Let’s wait and see how this changes the Raiders came and if the Sailors can further capitalize.

9:49 a.m.  -The word is that Red Hook’s setter broke her nose. Still waiting for the official word but the Sailors are trying to keep warm.

9:44 a.m. – This stop and go play cannot be good for either teams play. Since we are on an official time out. I’ll take the opportunity to give you some unofficial stats from my own stat sheet. Kami has seven kills and two blocks.

Danielle Girard from Red Hook is having a good morning, picking up what she can from the Sailors and throwing a lot back their way. She’s only a freshmen but her talent is already above most.

9:39 a.m. - Setter Jackie Tamburri is getting in on the kill action with a big kill off a Red Hook put back to put the Sailors up 21-15.

Red Hook setter Krissy Mulpeter appears to have a bloody nose. Play is delayed to check out her injury.

9:37 a.m.- Time out called. The Sailors are up 19-14. The K-train is officially warmed up and going full speed.

9:32 a.m – Amazing save by Kami Nethersole off a low pass from Jackie Tamburri. Tamburri was able to hit the ball over the net while still trying to stand up. Sailors up 13-9.

9:27 a.m. - Sailors tied it at 5-5 with a big kill by Ragin Jackson.

9:25 a.m. – Hen Hud starting off cold goes down 3-0.

9:24 am. – Finally starting!

I recently talked with Suffern boys volleyball coach Kim Cleary, who was on the bus with the team as they headed back from Syracuse (I hope they weren’t on a regular school bus).

Anyway, Suffern was eliminated in pool play at regionals at Cicero-North High School after compiling a 1-7 record against the winners of Sections 2, 3, 5, and 6. The Mounties finished fourth place overall.

Sophomore Oliver Svoboda led the way again with 30 kills and 15 blocks. Something tells me, we’re going to hear a lot more about this guy in the coming years, especially as boys volleyball gets bigger and bigger in the area.

Cleary was very pleased with how her team fared against much more established teams (this was Suffern’s first year) that have kids that play year around. The Mounties even played Section 6’s Orchard Park, the eventual winner, very close before losing 25-20.

All in all, it was a great first season for this team which finished undefeated (11-0) in sectional play and matched the girls team’s section 1 title.

Okay, off to watch a little football. I’ll be seeing plenty more volleyball tomorrow at SUNY New Paltz. Once again, here’s the schedule for Section 1 teams:

9 a.m.: Hen Hud vs. Red Hook (Class B)

1 p.m.: Westlake vs. Millbrook (Class C)

3 p.m.: Fox Lane vs. Cornwall (Class A)

So hop in the car and come see some good volleyball. Back with more tomorrow.

Today I saw the Class D regional final between Haldane and Section 11’s Shelter Island. Haldane had some troubles in the first and third sets, but still emerged with a 3-0 win.

The Blue Devils will now play in the state final four next weekend at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Amazingly, it’s the fourth straight year that Haldane will be making the trip, the last of which ended with a win in the title match over Section 6’s Randolph.

Avery Zuvic had nine kills, 10 digs and three aces for the Blue Devils, who won with game scores of 25-23, 25-17, 25-23.

Alex just checked in from St. Joseph’s College in Pathogue that Haldane defeated Shelter Island of Section 11 3-0.

Avery Zuvic had nine kills and 10 digs in the 25-23, 25-17, 25-23 win.

The Blue Devils advance to the state final which begins with pool-play on Saturday at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

Hey everyone,

We’re getting closer and closer to determining who will make the state final four in each class, but first, I wanted to comment on the boys sectional final.

What a well played match between Suffern and Clarkstown North. The Mounties won 3-0, but all three games were very competitive. Also, I was really impressed with Suffern’s Oliver Svoboda. Just a sophomore, he seemingly played the entire match above the net and finished with 17 kills and five blocks.

Suffern stayed undefeated but it will certainly be challenged in regionals against teams from other sections that have been playing for years. Should be interesting to see what happens.

Also today, I had a story in the paper on Rye swimmer Ryan Feeley, who signed a letter-of-intent with the University of Michigan. Since there isn’t a swimming blog, I wanted to give him some props, but also it reminds me of a streak I have going.

Hey guys,

Sorry about the delay in the Fox Lane and Suffern stats. Our system was down Tuesday night. They are all up now, though Coach Stanford did his own.

Casey