Uncommon Valor; Undying Pride
Monties Leave It All Out On The Court In Senior Night Clash Versus Powerful Warwick; Team Shows Grit and Character To Represent Storied Program In Coach Atack’s First Instance In Her Two Decades of Coaching Volleyball That Team Won’ t Make Sectionals.
Warwick, 3, Monticello 1: Scores: 25-17, 23-25, 25-17, 25-19
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Scenes from Monticello's Senior Night game versus Warwick: (Clockwise): Cassi Smithem rises above the net to answer the challenge. Seniors Cassi Smithem, Katie Fisher and Dayanara Torres, the Monties' volleyball motto, Warwick sophomore Maddie Zwicki blasts a ball to the floor for a riveting point, Shamira Moore shows her great vertical leap and defensive verve, Warwick's Liz Lepski fires it towards the Monties.
MONTICELLO, NY—“There’s a first time for everything,” observed Ed Kaufmann, Monticello’s longstanding volleyball assistant coach who teamed up with Coach Karen Atack for 18 years in addition to coaching a variety of other sports including softball and wrestling as part of his 34-year career at Monticello before his retirement in 2009.
Kaufmann was referring to the fact that this would mark the first time in Atack’s 20 years at the volleyball helm that her team would not make it to sectionals. That streak which represents one of Section Nine’s milestones was a product of an unwavering commitment and work ethic that the coach has instilled in her teams year after year.
Shamira Moore takes her game to a new level as she rises above the net versus Warwick.
Nothing lasts forever.
That’s a fact of life and even storied runs like Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak or Monroe-Woodbury’s 63-game consecutive football victories against Section Nine opponents must eventually come to an end.
Upon the occasion of Kaufmann’s retirement , Atack lauded him by saying, “We made a pact to strive for excellence and you kept your part of the bargain.” Needless to say, the Coach has and continues to live up to her word as well.
Though this story is about her current team’s home finale, a loss to a powerful Warwick team whose only defeats have come against behemoths Pine Bush and Cornwall, a bit more needs to be said about Atack here for what she models, teaches and requires from her players.
Atack calls forth their best and demands impeccable deportment and commitment. She’s tough that’s for sure..but caring even more so. In return for what she exacts from her players, she imparts to them values that will serve them for the rest of their lives.
Just such tributes were inscribed on the thank you poster team members had written on which they presented to her prior to the game. Zoom in on the photo of the poster in the accompanying album to read those words. They speak of gratitude, respect and thanks.
Encouragement, mentorship and wise management make for great coaching: Case in point Warwick's Patrick Ellis. His team's success speaks for itself.
Atack’s extraordinary run at the helm began after taking over from Mary Bury in 1990. In a match against Goshen on October 12, 2007, the Lady Panthers garnered what would become Atack’s 300th career win against 66 defeats at that juncture.
That season the Monties went on to make to the Class A finals where they lost to Cornwall. More victories have been added to the ledger since then though the Lady Panthers have not gotten back to the finals.
During the Atack reign, Monticello has won 10 conference championships that included six undefeated seasons, four Section Nine titles (the last coming in 2001 when Atack was named Coach of the Year), eight Section Nine runner-ups, several OCIAA Sportsmanship Awards and one state Scholar Championship.
Prior to the game three Monticello seniors were honored. Cassi Smithem played in the program for five years. She claims that the volleyball program has taught her life lessons and given her an experience she’ll never forget. Smithem thanked her mom for her 100 percent attendance at her games during her career.. “It meant more to me than she will ever know.”
Katie Fisher is a six year veteran who plans to go to college to study biomedical engineering and then continue on to medical school. “A heartwarming thanks to her parents and her sister Jackie for their undying support and thanks Coach Atack and Coach K and she will miss her days of playing volleyball for Montie High,” comprised her parting words.
Dayanara Torres thanks her mom for all of her hard work. A five year player at Monticello, Torres plans to attend college next year and to study psychology.
Monticello's volleyball legacy is impressive to say the least under Atack's watch. This banner reflects the most recent v-ball triumph that adorn the gym.
Kaufmann was honored as well and posed for a picture with the trio of elder stateswomen.
The Lady Wildcats of Warwick came in sporting a 12-2 record. Their only defeats came against ten-time defending Class AA champion Pine Bush and seven-time defending Class A champion Cornwall. The likely two-seed in the upcoming sectionals, Warwick hopes to break through finally to defeat Pine Bush for a title, a team they’ve lost to in the championships every year since 2007.
Given Monticello’s record, they had to be surprised by the Lady Panthers’ defensive verve. As Coach Patrick Ellis would note following his team’s victory. “They’re a scrappy team. It didn’t matter what we were putting out. They were all over the place picking up a lot of our stuff. They’re really good defensively,” he averred.
Monticello’s inspiring play during the match was defined by hustle, great teamwork and resilience. Having not seen them since the early part of the season, this writer was astonished at their progress.
“We have come such a long way. Even against Pine Bush..we got 15 points off of them. Ed and I agreed that Pine Bush was the top third team that we had ever seen play during our career.”
Great competitive play: Warwick's Erin Byrne and Monticello's Cassi Smithem meet at the net.
Shamira Moore is one of the people that has shown the most improvement on our team. At the beginning of the year she was hitting the net about 14 times.
She did it four times today but her elbow is now above the net and she is going to be a tremendous player next year I believe,” noted Atack.
Moore was not the only player Atack would cite. “Cassi represented Monticello very well tonight. She never gives up.
This was senior night and our goal was to leave heart and soul on the floor tonight and to be mentally and physically drained.. Looking at Cassi (and others) you could say that that happened,” she noted.
“Unleash the Beast,” is Monticello’s volleyball motto, emblazoned on the back of their warm up t-shirts and adorning the wall in the legendary “Pit.” Fisher took that sentiment to heart as she scored the first point of the night at the net. She was answered by a booming blast from sophomore setter Maddie Zwicki. Warwick made it 3-1 before Moore effected a nice block for the Lady Panthers.
Smithem tied it up and the Monties soon took a 5-3 lead but Warwick fought right back to tie it up at seven apiece. Again the Monties pushed to the fore front with an ace from Torres. The game was tied again at 11-all before Warwick went on a 5-0 run. Smithem’s net play kept the Monties in the game as did Moore’s digs as the Lady Wildcats now led 20-17 Warwick scored the last five points with junjior outside hitter Taylor Baldwin on the service line. Warwick took the first set 25-17.
A group of Montie males entered the bleachers bare chested with the words spelling out GO PANTHERS! collectively painted on their chests.
The Lady Monties played their best in set number two as they beat Warwick 25-23.
Katryna Rokicki began the service but Warwick pulled out to a quick 3-0 lead that soon burgeoned to a 7-1 margin behind senior outside hitter Lexi Pascal’s service. “Let’s go Panthers, let’s go,” chanted the home crowd and Moore soon dealt an ace to help the Panthers’ comeback reach 7-4.
Monticello's Katie Fisher slashes a ball by a rising Liz Lepski to the delight of the home crowd in "The Pit."
Smithem cut the lead to 7-6 with her play at the net. Katie Fisher spiked it in before the teams exchanged miscues by hitting it into net. Warwick maintained its lead as it moved ahead to 15-11 but the Monties responded as Moore made a nice block at the net as part of a run that reversed the polarity of the game in Monticello’s favor. Warwick was still in the lead at 21-17 but the Monties refused to relent.
Ellis called a time out as his team’s lead shrank to one at 21-20. With Aimee Rice at the service line the Monties tied it up and then went in the lead 22-21. A kill by Warwick senior Rachel Janes tied it up. Warwick got ahead again for the last time at 23-22 before the Lady Monties socred the last three points for the win behind Smithem’s service.
The teams battled mightily in the early going as Monticello dug out balls that were veering towards the floor on their way to an early 8-3 lead. Taylor’s service enabled Warwick to fight right back in a set they’d win by eight points erelong.
Monticello led 14-9 at one juncture, looking to take a pivotal lead in the match but they were outscored 16-3 as the tide turned dramatically in Warwick’s favor as they won 25-17 to take a 2-1 lead.
The final match was a bit closer at 25-19. It too featured relentlessly strong defense by the Lady Monties who continued to play with unflagging intensity.
Mutual respect and good sportsmanship are the hallmarks of admirable programs like Warwick and Monticello. They are a credit to their schools, communities, their parents and coaches whom they represent.
Ellis agreed that his team has some really fine hitters. ‘But we weren’t playing to where we have been,” he noted. “What we did really well tonight was that we stayed focus through a lot of the longer rallies. We didn’t have a lot of service errors. We’ve had a few games where we’ve gotten into the service error factor a few times. Tonight we took the time to get the solid serves in that we needed at crucial times,” he added.
Asked about what still needs work, he responded, “The biggest thing is energy level on our side of the net and the communication factor..keeping the energy high and when you have that lull in the gym without the crown on your side to keep you up. We need to work on that.
Warwick which is undefeated (6-0) in Division II figures to lock horns with Pine Bush again in the sectionals.
Top performers:
Monticello: Shamira Moore 3 aces, 11 service points, 3 assists, 6 kills, 8 digs; Cassi Smithem 2 aces, 5 service points, 3 assists, 3 kills, 6 digs; Aimee Rice 7 service points, 6 kills, 8 digs.
Warwick: Erin Byrne 2 aces, 12 service points, 8 kills, 4 blocks, 2 digs; Maddie Zwickl 20 service points, 14 assists, 8 kills, 6 digs; Taylor Baldwin 2 aces, 9 service points, 14 assists, 5 kills, 4 digs.
Records: Monticello 7-11; Warwick 13-2.
“Our goal is improvement,” said Atack. We’ve lost a lot of people and we have a lot to make up and we’re willing to accept the challenge going forward, said the iconic coach.
Despite this year’s shortfall in terms of wins, the Monticello volleyball story goes on and this writer for one, can’t wait for 2012 to pen the next chapter.
For an album of photos, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
