YORKTOWN, N.Y.—Yorktown and Lakeland athletes were busy with post-season play last week.
YORKTOWN GIRLS VOLLEYBALL (12-6)
Yorktown 3, Fox Lane 1
Friday, Nov. 1, Yorktown High School
No. 4 Yorktown topped No. 13 Fox Lane 3-1 (25-10, 20-25, 25-11, 25-22) in the opening round of the Section 1 Class AA Tournament.
Highlighting the win was Husker senior Lexi Livadhi (12 kills, 4 blocks, 2 digs) recording her 100th-career block that tied the third set at 1-1.
“I felt a lot of pressure to get two blocks to get to 100,” Livadhi said. “Prior to that block, I was going up unnaturally, and when I got the block, I focused on getting the ball. That, not really thinking about it, and just doing it naturally, helped me get that block.”
Livadhi plays a vital role both defensively and offensively for the Huskers.
“Blocking is our first line of defense, so we work on it and it’s a very important part of our offense,” said Yorktown coach Gigi Kemp. “We depend on her to block, so we have a better defense to dig it up, so our offense can go for that kill.”
Livadhi also had a big kill that made it 24-22 in the fourth and decisive set.
“Before we went out back to line up, I told my team, it’s just two points, let’s lock in and focus,” Livadhi said. “When I swung, I was very confident I wanted to put the ball away so I think that’s what led me to getting the kill.”
Nicole Dennison (23 assists, 6 digs, 4 aces, 2 kills) sealed the Husker victory on the next play with an ace.
“Having that ace was definitely crucial to seal a win in the first round,” Dennison said. “I think it really just came down to court awareness and going through everything with confidence.”
Livadhi felt the Huskers pulled out the hard-fought match because they were relentless.
“We played out every point, and everybody hustled,” Livadhi said. “Our back-row players did a lot to contribute, going out of the court trying to get the ball in and keep it in play, and along with our front-row players, swinging. Everybody was just really focused today and we obviously didn’t want to lose in the first round like we did previously, in previous years. I do believe that we can go far if we keep that same energy and tone.”
That type of intensity displayed by the Huskers was necessary because Fox Lane was equally relentless.
“Fox Lane was very relentless, it wouldn’t quit,” Kemp said. “We just had to try to just make everything perfect. We had to try to even out our hits, straighten them out a little bit more, they were going out of bounce a little bit, and we just wanted to swing that ball a little harder.”
It was a day that started with Livadhi and two of her teammates, Kaitlyn Riordan and Sadie Forde, singing the national anthem.
“We are not really singers, we just kind of just wanted to do something, since it was the first playoff game,” Livadhi said. “We asked our coach if we could sing the national anthem and she said yes, so we just winged it.”
Forde (20 digs, 4 kills, 2 assists, 2 aces), Amy Tintin (9 digs, 3 aces, 1 assist), Natalia Lyon (9 kills, 9 digs, 2 assists, 2 aces), Katie Piehler (14 assists, 9 digs, 1 ace), Hailey Riordan (10 digs, 8 kills), Jacklyn McDonald (2 aces), Kaitlyn Riordan (1 dig), Mia Riordan (3 digs, 2 assists), Melanie Pujols (4 assists, 3 blocks, 1 dig), Tori Guzman (1 kill) and Jordan Drap (5 kills) all pitched in to garner the victory.
“Winning the first round did certainly feel great, knowing that we all have worked hard for these important moments,” Dennison said.
LAKELAND GIRLS VOLLEYBALL (12-7)
Lakeland 3, Roosevelt 0
Friday, Nov. 1, Lakeland High School
No. 6 Lakeland was victorious 3-0 (25-18, 25-7, 25-10) against No. 11 Roosevelt in the opening round of the Section 1 Class A Tournament, led by Kelly Mallon (15 kills), Sofia Cruz (13 kills), Caelyn Faison (6 kills), Kaycee Aurigemma (18 assists), and Lynae Petrosino (13 assists).
“We were able to terminate on offense,” Mallon said. “All of our setters, Elyse Steimel, Kaycee Aurigemma, and Lynae Petrosino gave all of our hitters great sets which allowed our offense to run fast and clean.”
YORKTOWN BOYS VOLLEYBALL (18-2)
Yorktown 3, Edgemont 0
Sunday, Nov. 3, Yorktown High School
Top-seeded Yorktown defeated No. 8 Edgemont 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-12) in the quarterfinals of the Section 1 Division 2 Tournament.
Emanuel Gojani (1 ace, 23 digs, 7 kills), Jack Brunner (1 ace, 10 digs, 19 assists 3 kills), Justin Sek (17 digs, 13 kills), and Xavier Guzman (5 digs, 8 kills) ignited Yorktown to the win.
“The key to getting the win today was definitely our energy,” Sek said. “We had a lot of people including myself still recovering from sickness. Our offense wasn’t really there but our defense definitely was clicking. We had strong serves and freshman Xavier Guzman was killing it on the opposite (side).”
LAKELAND BOYS VOLLEYBALL (7-13)
Croton-Briarcliff 3, Lakeland 0
Sunday, Nov. 3, Croton-Harmon High School
No. 3 Croton-Briarcliff defeated No. 6 Lakeland 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-23) in the quarterfinals of the Section 1 Division 2 Tournament.
YORKTOWN BOYS SOCCER (12-5-2)
Yorktown 3, Clarkstown North 1
Tuesday, Oct. 29, Yorktown High School
No. 4 Yorktown defeated No. 12 Clarkstown North 3-1 in the quarterfinals of the Section 1 Class AA Tournament.
“I feel that the thought of this game possibly being our last together, really helped motivate us to play hard and eventually win the match, along with there being an amazing atmosphere, adding up to the motivation,” said Yorktown senior Nicky Pozo. “Knowing that every team is a new team in sectionals, we had to play hard.”
Pozo (1G, 1A), Haniel Flores (1G, 1A), Colin Worden (1G), Ricky Tiberii (1A), and Antonio Spiniello (5 saves) spurred the Huskers to the victory.
“Having a win at possibly my last home game at Yorktown really meant a lot to me,” Pozo said. “From being pulled up sophomore year and now competing for a spot in the section final my senior year, is something I’ve wanted ever since we won (the sectional title) in 2022. It’s a great feeling.”
Tappan Zee 2, Yorktown 1 (OT)
Thursday, Oct. 31, Tappan Zee High School
Yorktown fell to No. 1 Tappan Zee in overtime 2-1 in the semifinals of the Section 1 Class AA Tournament, with Flores (1G), Worden (1A), and Spiniello (7 saves) producing for the Huskers.
LAKELAND BOYS SOCCER (11-6-1)
Rye 1, Lakeland 0
Tuesday, Oct. 29, Rye High School
Lakeland’s Oban Rader tallied 7 saves in the No. 5 Hornets’ 1-0 loss to No. 4 Rye in the quarterfinals of the Section 1 Class A Tournament.
LAKELAND GIRLS SOCCER (7-9-2)
Pleasantville 4, Lakeland 1
Monday, Oct. 28, Pleasantville High School
No. 1 Pleasantville defeated No. 9 Lakeland 4-1 in the quarterfinals of the Section 1 Class A Tournament.
Lakeland, which tallied 15 shots on goal, tied the game at 1-1 in the 11th minute, on a goal from Gianna Pace, assisted by Margaret Keating.
Pleasantville broke the 1-1 halftime tie with three goals in the second half to garner the victory.
Amelia Calisi registered 9 saves for the Hornets.
“The final doesn’t reflect how good of a game it was,” said Lakeland coach Greg Doell. “We gave them a lot of problems. Their keeper pulled one off of the goal line at 2-1 which would have tied the game. Their third with seven to go made it tough to come back from and they got a fourth in the last minute.”
YORKTOWN FIELD HOCKEY (12-5-1)
Rye 2, Yorktown 0
Monday, Oct. 28, Rye High School
Yorktown’s Annie Durante garnered 8 saves for No. 5 Yorktown, in its 2-0 loss to No. 4 Rye in the quarterfinals of the Section 1 Class B Tournament.
LAKELAND FOOTBALL (2-7)
Nyack 26, Lakeland 23
Wednesday, Oct. 30, Nyack High School
Joe LaPeruta (9/15, 101 yards, TD, 9 rushes, 74 yards), Nick Alleva (11 rushes, 34 yards, TD, 11 tackles, 3 for loss), Michael Dicioccio (2 receptions, 35 yards, TD, defensive interception), Anthony Ray (4 receptions, 90 yards), Don Lemma (defensive pick six), and Joey Kolesar (defensive interception) led Lakeland in its 26-23 loss against Nyack.
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