Massapequa girls volleyball exits Class AA state championships in pool play

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. — The Massapequa girls volleyball team had some doubters this season after graduating the core of its state finalist squad last year — even some of those donned the uniform.

Throughout the season, Massapequa was determined to carry on the legacy left by previous teams. Massapequa did that, winning its fourth straight Nassau Class AA title in its fourth straight undefeated regular season.

But Massapequa’s season ended in the pool play stage of the state girls volleyball championships at Cool Insuring Arena Saturday in Glens Falls. Shenendehowa and Lancaster advanced to Sunday’s state final.

“I’m just so proud of all of us,” senior Elena Michaels said. “We were looked down upon after last year. Honestly, even I didn’t think we’d make it this far and the fact we can say we are undefeated, county champs, Long Island champs and third in the state, I’m proud no matter what happened.”

Massapequa finished 3-3 in Class AA pool play. After dropping its fifth set of the contest, it appeared clear Massapequa’s season would end without a trip to Sunday’s state final. But Massapequa was determined to close the year with a victory and handed Shenendehowa its first loss at the state championships, 25-22.

“That last game, we wanted it so bad,” Erin Stanley said. “Even if it meant we went home or we stayed. We just wanted every single point and every time I touched the ball, I wanted to make a difference and make sure everything we did had a purpose.”

“We never gave up,” coach Amanda Del Giacco said. “A lot of teams would have realized we’re probably not going to make it and just crumble. But we fought until the very end.”

Massapequa entered Saturday 18-0 and its only losses in the last four seasons came to Victor in last year’s state final and Connetquot in the 2019 Long Island Class AA championship/Southeast Regional final.

“This team has worked extremely hard to come back and try to capture that title we didn’t get last year,” Del Giacco said. “We fell short but it’s nothing to shake our heads at or be upset with. We put it all out on the floor, tried our best and that’s all you could ask for as a coach.”

Massapequa featured six seniors in its rotation last year. But starters such as Allison Petrullo, Carly Elfenbein, Erin Gannon, Jolie Kanceler, Olivia Harris, Michaels and Stanley were pivotal to continuing the program’s winning tradition this season.

“Show me a team that has seven players that have never played on a team together before on the floor and then have them come to states,” Del Giacco said. “It’s not happening. Only in our program and that’s something that’s an accomplishment in itself.”

The student-athletes wanted to leave their mark.

“Nobody saw us as main players from Massapequa,” Michaels said. “But we were able to look past it, move on, work hard and get that title for us.”

“I think everyone was underestimated because none of us really played last year,” Stanley said. “And just getting this far is really impressive.”