Shanley, Kelleher lead Smithtown West past Sachem North
Smithtown West's Chris Shanley against Lindenhurst on Sept. 19, 2017. Credit: Richard T. Slattery
With exhaustion setting in as sweat continued to drip onto the Sachem North gym floor — prompting the hardwood to be mopped up after each point — the Smithtown West boys volleyball team dug in for the long haul.
The Bulls won the opening set but dropped the next two, and with their backs against the wall, they came together to play perhaps their best volleyball of the season.
By taking the final two sets, Smithtown West defeated Sachem North, 25-16, 16-25, 20-25, 25-22, 20-18, to improve to 5-1 in Suffolk I on Wednesday. Perhaps more importantly, the Bulls handed the Flaming Arrows their first regular-season loss since 2012.
“It was hard not to think about how hot it was in the gym,” said senior outside hitter Chris Shanley, who had 17 kills and played a strong defensive game. “Everyone’s dripping in sweat, the court is soaking wet. It’s hard, but you just have to play through conditions like that.”
Smithtown West was also the only blemish on Sachem North’s record last season, though that loss came in the postseason. The Bulls upset the Arrows in the Suffolk Class A championship before winning a Long Island championship against Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK shortly thereafter.
Bulls coach Mike Legge said the two teams match up well. There are strong hitters on both sides and reliable defenses that force offenses to work hard for points.
It was a group headlined by Shanley and Kevin Kelleher (13 kills) that made the difference for Smithtown West. Legge said Colin Fitzgerald, a libero, was “consistent in turning defense into offense.”
At this point last season, Smithtown West was set to begin a nine-game winning streak that eventually ended at the hands of Penfield in the state tournament. Shanley thinks this year’s team is right on par with that pace.
“Right now I’m thinking we’re right where we should be,” he said. “This time last year was when we started to hit our stride.”
Maybe that stride will lead the Bulls on a collision course to a playoff matchup with Sachem North, a match that would certainly be one of the season’s most anticipated clashes.
