Southwick came close in attempting to net a victory against Smith Voke Tuesday. (Photo by Fred Gore)
SOUTHWICK – The Southwick High girls’ volleyball team lost a heartbreaker, dropping a five-set match to visiting Smith Vocational Tuesday. The Rams, who fought back to tie the game 1-1 and later force a decisive fifth set, fell 25-18, 21-25, 25-15, 24-26, 15-12.
Declan O’Donnell (18 digs), Tim Giancola (6 aces), Dylan Buscemi (5 aces), and Ryan Todesco (4 kills, 2 blocks, 14 digs) nearly carried Southwick to victory.
“It was hard for us to adjust to the free balls,” Southwick coach Kaitlyn Athony said, “and our attacks weren’t on point.”
Smith Voke took advantage of Southwick’s mistakes.
Jake Wilson-Martenack (7 assists, 4 blocks, 3 aces, 5 digs), Wendell Padilla (4 digs, 3 kills, 3 blocks), Spencer Boland (6 kills, 3 digs), and Cullen Pice (2 blocks, 2 digs) led the opposition.
Syman Dastoli served Smith Voke to victory in the final match.
Coach Anthony said the goal for Southwick – now in its first year as a varsity team – is still to make tournament.
Although the head coach has her sights set on making the postseason, she admitted that her players will have to hammer down the basics on offense and defense, gain a better grasp of rotations, and trust in each other.
“We want to gain a presence for the sport (at the school) in general,” Anthony said. “The wins will eventually come.”
