Plainedge girls volleyball's Angelina Puglisi helps deliver Long Island Class A crown
Plainedge wins the Long Island Class A girls volleyball championship on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, in Hauppauge. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Fresh off the program’s first county title, Plainedge girls volleyball was aiming to further its legacy in the Long Island championship. If that pressure wasn’t already enough, the Red Devils would have to pull off a win in a deciding fifth set.
That fifth set featured 13 ties and three match points for Sayville. Plainedge eventually found itself on the cusp of jubilation and Angelina Puglisi’s kill delivered it.
Puglisi spiked down a kill on Plainedge’s second match point, giving the Red Devils a 25-21, 21-25, 25-21, 15-25, 19-17, victory over Sayville in the Long Island Class A championship at Hauppauge on Tuesday night.
“That was the best feeling ever,” Puglisi said. I’m happy to do that for my team and excited that it allowed us to finally get the win. This is the first time this team has ever gotten this far and that moment wouldn’t have been possible without my teammates.”
Plainedge took a 7-4 lead in the fifth after back-to-back aces from Mia Jordan. Sayville scored the next three on an error and Jillian Livingston’s kills. Livingston’s kill gave Sayville its first match point at 14-13, but Mia Accatino’s kill tied it for Plainedge.
Peyton Wise’s kills saved another match point for Plainedge and Kennedy Murnane’s kill put it ahead 16-15. After exchanging four errors, Puglisi rose and slammed down a kill to keep Plainedge’s season alive.
Puglisi finished with nine kills and Wise added 15.
“I was thrilled to get the opportunity in that moment,” Puglisi said. “We worked under pressure all season. Even when we’re down, we always stay composed.”
Plainedge (21-1) will face the winner of Wallkill (Section IX)/Rye (Section1) in the southeast regional final on Saturday.
“We’re excited to keep going to work every day,” senior middle Savannah Speicher said. “Every win means we keep spending time with each other.”
Livingston’s kill capped off a 6-0 run for Sayville in the fourth, putting it ahead 16-10. The Golden Flashes scored the final five points of the set, with Ava Brown’s two kills and Cassidy Darling’s kill ending it.
“Any time you get to a fifth set, things can go either way with it being so much shorter,” Plainedge coach Colin Fratrik said. “Our girls showed complete resilience, battling through tough match points and all the back and forth.”
Plainedge took an 18-7 lead in the third after Wise’s back-to-back kills. Sayville provided a strong response as Brown’s fifth kill of the set got it within 24-21, but Accatino’s kill gave Plainedge the set.
“Our mentality is never giving up. We pick each other up,” Speicher said. “We come together and just say point by point. Focus on the next one.”
Khylee Boesch had a big second set, notching nine kills, a block and an ace for Sayville. She had the final kill of the set.
Wise’s kill put Plainedge ahead 20-19 in the first. The Red Devils closed the set on a 5-2 run as Ava Nitsch’s kill gave them the early lead.
“Last year was a learning moment for us. We got beat in the county final by a better team in South Side, that ended up winning states,” Fratrik said. “Our girls came back hungrier. We only lost one starter, but I think last season really propelled us here.”
Christopher Matias covers high school sports for Newsday after spending time in Athletic Facilities and Operation at St. John’s and in Sports Information at CUNY York college.
