Kelsie Kennedy, Haven Mills lead Bay Shore to first Suffolk girls volleyball crown
Bay Shore wins the Suffolk Class AAA girls volleyball championship against Ward Melville on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in Brentwood. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Bay Shore came close to achieving history but came up just short in last year's county final. This year, the Marauders refused to let their opportunity slip away.
No. 1 Bay Shore defeated No. 3 Ward Melville, 25-18, 22-25, 25-22, 25-20, in the Suffolk Class AAA final at Suffolk Community College on Tuesday to win its first girls volleyball county championship in school history.
“We’ve been fighting for this for so long and everybody bought in from the first day of tryouts,” senior libero Kelsie Kennedy said. “This was our goal and now we’re going to keep trying to go further.”
Bay Shore (17-0) will face the Section VII champion in the Long Island championship at 4 p.m. on Wednesday at Nassau Community College.
Haven Mills had 17 kills and three blocks and Kennedy added 18 digs and two aces. Shannon Smith had 15 kills and Kerin Butler tallied 33 assists.
“Kelsie has been an amazing leader for us for the past five years. She’s the heart and soul of the team,” Bay Shore coach Jamie Soldinger said. “Haven is the fire and that fire pushes all of us.”
Bay Shore took an early 8-2 lead in the first after Mills’ ace. The Marauders closed the set on a 5-1 run, ending it on a kill and block from Gigi Samboy.
Bay Shore wins the Suffolk Class AAA girls volleyball championship on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in Brentwood. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Ward Melville (15-4) took an 18-14 lead in the second as Julia Guo scored five straight points, notching a kill and four consecutive aces. Lily Czaplinski’s kill gave Ward Melville set point and an error ended it.
“We all took a breath and came together to realize we just had to do our jobs,” Mills said. “Just play Bay Shore volleyball.”
With Bay Shore trailing 21-20 in the third, Mills came up with two kills, giving Bay Shore the advantage. Mills spiked home a kill for the set’s final point.
“They were really hungry after being so close last year and losing in the fifth set,” Soldinger said. “It helped drive this entire year. I know tomorrow at practice they’re going to be ready to start looking toward next week.”
Bay Shore went on an 8-0 run in the fourth to take a 17-10 lead as Smith and Kennedy each tallied an ace. Samboy’s kill gave the Marauders match point and a service error two points later sent them into celebration.
“I’m really excited to play in the Long Island championship. It’s going to be a great game,” Mills said. I have full confidence that this team will keep this going.”
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.
