Emilie Reimer, Carly Doorhy lead Mattituck to another Long Island Class C title
Mattituck's Emilie Reimer (arms raised) and teammates celebrate after their 3-0 win over East Rockaway in the Long Island Class C championship at SUNY Old Westbury on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014. Credit: James Escher
Whenever times got rough this season, the Mattituck girls volleyball team always could turn to Emilie Reimer and Carly Doorhy to steady things, and in the biggest match of the season, this held true again.
Reimer had 24 kills and four blocks and Doorhy had 26 assists to lead Mattituck to a 3-0 win over East Rockaway for the Long Island Class C championship Sunday at SUNY Old Westbury. The Tuckers won, 25-21, 25-18, 25-18, for their second straight L.I. title and their fourth in five seasons.
Lizzie Wilcenski added five aces and was 17-for-17 from the service line, helping Mattituck (10-9) advance to the state tournament, which begins Saturday in Glens Falls.
"It's the best thing you can do in a sports season," Reimer said. "It brings you so much closer."
"The last two weeks, they put it together," Tuckers coach Frank Massa said. "My hat's off to these girls. They came on really strong at the right time."
That was true of the season but also of Sunday's match. East Rockaway (6-13) led 20-18 in the first set before Mattituck won seven of the set's final 10 points.
"Reimer is the rock athletically and emotionally, along with Carly Doorhy," Massa said. "Those girls took it over and said, 'Relax, this is how it's going to go.' And it worked out our way."
The Tuckers carried their strong finish into the next two sets, winning both by seven.
It was the latest challenge overcome by Mattituck in 2014, as the team also had to fight through a challenging schedule that included larger Class B schools.
"There were a lot of ups and downs, some doubting," Reimer said. "Bringing the team together and saying 'we're one team, we're one family, we'll work together and that's how we're going to win,' that's how we started getting going."
And now the Tuckers will be going to Glens Falls.
"Whether you win or lose, you made it there. You can't change that," Reimer said.
"I can't wait for the bus ride up!" Doorhy said. "It's the best part! Mr. Massa chooses really bad movies but . . . it's definitely worth it!"
