Ava Reilly helps No. 1 Port Jefferson win its fifth straight county title in volleyball
Port Jefferson is the Suffolk Class C girls volleyball champion in Brentwood on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
At times, Port Jefferson girls volleyball winning a county title feels like a formality, but the girls on the court will tell you just how much effort it truly takes.
No. 1 Port Jefferson defeated No. 2 Greenport/Southold, 25-11, 25-14, 25-14, in the Suffolk Class C final at Suffolk Community College on Wednesday to win its fifth straight county title.
“We expect to do this, but not because it’s easy. It’s because we know how hard we work,” senior setter Ava Reilly said. “Every off-season we start practicing in January and we pretty much practice every day from there”
Port Jefferson (21-1) cruised to an early 25-11 victory in the first set and carried the momentum to 11-point wins in each of the next two sets. Greenport/Southold finished 14-3.
Reilly had 33 assists and two aces and Sara Puopolo tallied 12 kills and 10 digs. Freshman Sude Ozgur totaled eight kills and Anneliese Rago added nine kills, 15 digs and four aces.
“At practice you can clearly see how much hard work everyone puts in and now I get to see first-hand how it pays off,” Ozgur said. “This was my first time on this stage and it was exciting to play at a high level. Now we’ll have the chance to do it again.”
With no Section VIII representative in Class C, the Royals will advance to the Region Final, where they will host the winner of the Section IX/I sub-regional at noon on Nov. 14.
Port Jefferson’s sustained success has been impressive. The Royals haven’t lost a match or dropped a set to a league opponent since October of 2023.
“It doesn’t even feel like it has anything to do with me,” Port Jefferson coach CJ Hafner said. “They all want to get better and I just have to manage them. These girls like to see each other succeed and they all feel comfortable showcasing their skills.
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.
