Kellenberg girls volleyball loses to Xaverian in state CHSAA semifinal
Kellenberg players huddle during a timeout in a CHSAA girls volleyball state semifinal against Xaverian on Sunday at St. John's. Credit: Libby O'Neill
Kellenberg girls volleyball earned its fifth straight appearance in the CHSAA state tournament, but this year the Firebirds' stay in the competition was short-lived.
Xaverian defeated Kellenberg, 25-19, 26-24, 25-11, in a state CHSAA semifinal on Sunday afternoon at St. John’s University. Alice Beckett had nine kills and three blocks and Olivia Twomley added eight kills and two aces for the Firebirds.
Kellenberg trailed 17-12 in the second set before going on a 6-0 run. Beckett’s kill and block gave the Firebirds the advantage. Julia Bonino’s ace gave Kellenberg a 21-19 lead, but Xaverian tied it at 24 and scored the final two points.
“We just had some communication breakdowns. I wish I could tell you why, but the fundamentals just weren’t there,” Kellenberg coach Cathy von Schoenermarck said. “Once that happened, it started to compound. We were right with them the first two games.”
Xaveriantook a 13-2 lead in the third set and maintained at least a seven-point lead throughout.
Jaclyn Creegan finished with 14 assists, 11 digs and two aces and Bonino had nine assists, eight digs and two aces. Elizabeth McDermott added 10 digs.
Kellenberg (11-2) earned a fifth consecutive league title with a four-set win over Sacred Heart. In that match, the Firebirds saved three set points in the first and overcame a seven-point deficit in the fourth.
“I told them after the game, ‘don’t let one bad game color your perspective of the entire season’, von Schoenermarck said. “We sought out and played some of the toughest competition on Long Island this season and we kept pace with a lot of excellent programs.”
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.
