Lenox Tops Monument Mountain in Three Sets
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Captain Maddie Barenski passed out 23 assists as the Millionaires topped Monument Mountain, 25-16, 25-15, 25-19.
Lenox trailed just three times all evening and never was behind later than a 7-6 deficit in the first set.
Chassi erased that deficit with a couple of aces, and a couple of rotations later, Kailyn Sorrentino served three straight points to open a 13-19 lead that Lenox never relinquished.
"We don't take any team or any game for granted," Lenox coach Noelle Skowron said. "The biggest thing is just making sure we're executing."
And, on that score, Skowron was happy with what she saw on Monday.
"We have some new players in new positions this year," She said. "So it's been a lot of teaching them and getting everyone used to playing with each other. With such a quick season, we don't have a lot of time to work our rotation.
"So, yeah, the name of the game for us this year is execution and making smart decisions, and I think it's working in that direction and all coming together."
Captain Ella Smith served five straight points late in the first set -- the last a Giardina kill -- to get Lenox its first set point at 24-15.
Monument Mountain earned a sideout, but Barenski set up Giardina for the set-winning kill to make it 1-0.
In the second set, the Millionaires pulled away gradually with three small runs on the serves of Barenski (twice) and Smith. Barenski's second turn at the service line saw Smith deliver a kill to make it 20-11. Moments later, Camryn O'Dell notched a kill to give Lenox its second set point at 24-14.
The Spartans took their last lead of the match at the start of the third set. Cate Consolati put away a kill on the serve of Brianna Ayala to put Monument Mountain up, 2-0.
Ayala led the Spartans with nine assists and had four digs and three kills.
Monument Mountain coach Kyle Henry said he was pleased with his team's effort in the loss and, more importantly, pleased to see the squad enjoying the chance to participate in the Fall 2 season.
"I have seven seniors, and our priority this year is having fun on the court," Henry said. "We had a match where we struggled and we didn't have fun. And we talked about that.
"My emphasis for this team is to play and have fun. And when we did that, we played Greylock and Lee, and we played really, really solid volleyball. We didn't win the matches, but that's not as important to me as a coach as these kids going out -- especially this year -- and having a great time playing the sport.
"My seniors, this is probably one of the most amazing group of kids I've had, and it's going to be difficult to see them leave. But to see them compete and have fun again their senior year ... it actually gets a little emotional sometimes, because I'm going to miss these kids."
Lenox took control of the third set with a seven-point run on the serve of Hailey Ano, who started things off with one of her three aces in the match.
It was a seven-point lead late when the serve went to Monument Mountain's Amber Troiano at 23-16. She kept the Spartans alive with three straight points, which included another Consolati kill and Troiano ace.
Troiano finished with six digs to go with three assists, two kills and two blocks.
Monday's win gives the Millionaires some good vibes going into Friday's match against Taconic and, perhaps more importantly, the three days of practice that proceed it.
"We weren't able to practice in the fall," Skowron said. "Some of the girls were able to play with their club teams, but, as a unit, we weren't able to do much together. We came in a week before the season started and hit the ground running."
It has helped that Lenox added just two players to a veteran varsity core from 2019.
"All these girls have varsity experience, which is really helpful, and they've worked hard to bring the two new varsity members into the team and get them up to speed," Skowron said. "This is a very united team this year, and I'm very proud of that. They work together well as a unit. It's just a very positive atmosphere."