SOMERS, N.Y. - On Thursday, Oct. 9, Somers hosted Eastchester, and the Tuskers dominated the first set, making it seem like Senior Night would be an easy afternoon.
But as Shari Marrero jokingly noted, “Our favorite thing about volleyball? Dragging every match out to five sets.” Her teammate Maegan Brown, who ended up delivering the game-winning kill, had her own humorous reason for calling the deciding set.
“I really wanted to get out of here and go eat,” she quipped — and her kill certainly rang the dinner bell in a thrilling 25-7, 21-25, 13-25, 25-19, 15-11 victory.
Set one started strong, with Abby Babboni taking the first serve and delivering a powerful kill from the middle. Katie Kourakos followed with an ace, and after Claire Cronin made a diving save at the net, she quickly turned it into a kill, giving the Tuskers a 4-0 lead. Maegan Brown and Alivia Donaldson added points from the left and right, extending the lead to 10-1. Somers maintained their momentum with three more kills from Brown, a pair of aces from Svea Almquist, and strong plays from Babboni, Cronin, and Olivia Tran, cruising to a decisive first-set win.
Set two saw Eastchester fight back. Despite early points from Kourakos and Brown, the Eagles, led by Ariana Sejdiu, Melissa Pettita, and Mary Lawlor, took control, eventually winning 25-14. Coach Massi Angooti reminded her team, “We are connected. Everything is teamwork. We need to stay together and stay united.”
The Tuskers responded in set three with aggressive play. Kourakos opened with two aces, and despite Eastchester’s impressive rallies, Somers stayed competitive. Babboni and Tran made crucial dives and kills, while Brown delivered a key ace to give Somers a narrow lead. The teams traded points, but strong teamwork and clutch plays from Kourakos, Cronin, and Babboni allowed Somers to capture the set.
Set four and the decisive fifth set were a display of determination from both sides. Somers jumped out early, with Kourakos, Babboni, and Brown making critical kills and aces. Eastchester tried to keep pace, but Somers’ combination of smart positioning, aggressive attacks, and timely digs proved too much. Maegan Brown’s final kill sealed the match, sending the Tuskers to a memorable five-set victory on Senior Night.
Somers’ senior players and starters, particularly Babboni, Kourakos, Cronin, Tran, and Brown, showcased their skill, teamwork, and resilience, leaving fans cheering and a Senior Night to remember.
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