Back To Basics
Monticello Sweeps Non-League Series Against Sullivan West As Teams Approach New Season Stressing Fundamentals
Non-league: Monticello d. Sullivan West 3-1
Game scores: 26-24, 25-11, 21-25, 25-15
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Season opening series: Monticello completes the sweep of the season opening non-;league matches against Sullivan West by a 3-1 score in a closely contested series of games. Clockwise: 2011 Lady Monties- Front row left to right: Katryna Rokicki, Cassi Smithem, Katie Fisher. Second row: Aimee Rice, Yadira Montes, Kiyara Bracy and Shamira Moore. Third row:: Dayanara Torres, Yamilersy Reyes, Saige Sanford, Shivani Patel, Marcella Fernandez and Ashley Falu. Katie Fisher serves and Yadira Montes does her magic at the net. Bottom right: Chelsie Stauch returns a serve and Karalii Rabii readies for a volley. Lady Bulldogs 2011: Front row left to right: Rebecca Corcillo and Brittney Milk. Second row: Courtney Landers, Karalii Rabii, Brittany Roa, Barbara Whittaker, Melissa McCormack, Alexa Buday, Chelsie Stauch and Erika Stauch.
LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY—A new season is always about starting over. But for Monticello iconic coach Karen Atack, losing ten of her players who graduated last June makes that phrase even more literally accurate.
With only four seniors on the roster including just two who saw significant playing time last year in Katie Fisher and Cassi Smithem, Atack’s youngsters have their work cut out for them as they face a bevy of Class AA teams in their schedule in addition to juggernaut division rival Cornwall and other league contenders in Port Jervis and Goshen. Veteran junior Katryna Rokicki was also part of last year’s fine team and as the team’s first server, she looks to try and lend her expertise to the cause.
That said, even with the exit of so much talent, Class A Monticello has emerged 2-0 with a pair of match wins over Class C Sullivan West.
For their part, the Lady Bulldogs ably coached by Cliff Kelly is fielding a time almost entirely blessed with prior experience. Having made sectionals for the past three years in a row, Sullivan West, with only two seniors in the fold in Rebecca Corcillo and Brittney Milk, look sharper and more cohesive than they did a year ago.
Monticello's first server: junior veteran Katryna Rokicki
The result was much closer play against Monticello, a team that in prior years bested them far more easily. In fact, Sullivan West won the second game of this match by the score of 25-11 riding the overpowering service of junior Karalii Rabbi who posted a game-high 21 points to go along with her two blocks and four kills.
The teams looked very evenly matched in the opening set as the Monties prevailed 26-24 in a game Kelly felt really could easily have been won by his squad. He challenged his team in the break between sets and the Lady Bulldogs answered the challenge in the second set as they dominated Monticello 25-11.
The Lady Monties led by the opening service of Rokicki bolted out to a 7-0 lead. Rokicki ripped a quartet of aces in that initial surge. Sullivan West fought back but couldn’t muster a sustained run as the Monties prevailed 25-18 for the win. In their prior match staged in the Monticello Pit, Monticello won games to one, oddly beginning the set with another 26-24 nail biter.
After this match Atack noted, “We’ll take the win. We still have a lot to work on. Tonight different people stepped up in different areas. Katryna served first for a reason. She did lead in serves. Yadira Montes is supposed to be the leading person handling balls at the net which she did. We still need basic skills. These girls are very willing to work hard and together. I’m happy with certain things, but realistically we still have a lot of hard work ahead of us. Fundamental skill is nearly where it needs to be. We did have some communication problems. Monticello faces three games in the next three school days as they begin the next part of their schedule taking on Class AA Kingston, Washingtonville and Valley Central.
Kelly said, “We had our moments and our opportunities to win these games. We just shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times. We had good servers and good positions. “ Kelly feels his team is better than it was a year ago. Sullivan West is entering the league portion of its schedule with matches against Fallsburg, Liberty and Tuxedo.
Monticello top performers: Katie Fisher 12 points, 5 kills; Yadira Montez 9 points, 7 assists, 10 kills.
Sullivan West top performers: Karalii Rabii 21 points, 2 blocks, 4 kills, 4 digs; Rebecca Corcillo 4 points, 2 blocks, 5 kills, 2 digs; Erica Stauch 8 points; Chelsea Stauch 6 points, 5 kills; Melissa McCormack 6 points, 4 blocks, 4 digs.
Team records: Monticello 2-0; Sullivan West 0-2.
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