The Mahopac HS volleyball team opened its season last Wednesday at home against a solid Lakeland squad. Pac had a window in the second set before ultimately falling, 3-0, to the Hornets.
Lakeland controlled the first set, 25–13, but Mahopac seemed poised for a comeback in the second, and led 15–11, before the visitor responded with a flurry to take a 25-17 decision. The Hornets won the third set, 25-15.
“Lakeland has two strong outside hitters, and they also got in a few good serves,” Mahopac coach Jay Melville said. “Our hitters started to get tentative as they cut the lead, and we started to feel the pressure. We weren’t as aggressive.
“They’re a good team, with a lot of returning players,” Melville added of the Hornets. “We lost some talent from last year, but we also have some good players back. It was a bit of a rough opener, we haven’t had any scrimmages, and that showed. It’s tough to open against a strong team like that. We were too inconsistent.”
Sophomore Taylor Vitiello led Mahopac with seven aces and seven digs, senior Bella DeChico had four assists, four blocks, 12 digs, and three kills, and Olivia Hoyt added eight digs.
Mahopac returns six starters from a team that went 11-8 last year, losing to Yorktown in the playoff quarterfinals.
Seniors Leona Ademi, DeChico, and Hoyt will serve as captains, and lead the list of returners, along with senior Nadia Stepinac, Vitiello (All-League as a freshman last year), and junior Vivien Zucchi.
“We return a lot of players with a lot of experience, it’s a solid group,” Melville said. “I think we can be strong defensively. Offensively, we’re still working on having our hitters and setters get comfortable with each other. Once they do, I think we’ll have a chance to be competitive with the teams we’re playing this year.”
Mahopac is in a new league with Carmel, Peekskill, Yorktown, Greeley and Fox Lane.
“Greeley won the section last year, so they’re strong,” Melville said. “Yorktown is always solid… both of them should be good. But this can be a good league for us, and I think we can be competitive.”
Mahopac was set to travel to Fox Lane Friday (Sept. 12) for a 5 p.m. match, and the Pac plays in the Yorktown Tournament Saturday.
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