43°
GLENS FALLS, N.Y. -- Pelham goes into the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Volleyball Championship final four playing at its best.
The Pelicans, who had an outstanding regular season, have lost only one set in five sectional and state matches. Pelham, making its first final-four appearance, will take to the Glens Falls Civic Center, Saturday, 3:30 p.m., for pool play along with Johnstown (Section 2), Marcellus (Section 3) and John Glenn (Section 11). The two teams with the best records after pool play will meet in the final, Sunday, noon.
Weve had a different mindset now than from the beginning of the season, said senior Marissa Volpe, one of four captains, along with Loren Cecil, Lauren Keller and Meghan McDonough. We were all focused on winning the sectional championship, at first. We never even thought about the states.
This is icing on the cake for us because we achieved what we wanted, winning a sectional title, and we have continued to move forward. We have become much more focused and intense.
Pelham has raised its level of play despite the absence of Amanda Dempsey, who suffered a sprained ankle in practice the day before the sectional final. Dempsey had stepped in for Devi Kinkhabwala, who has been sidelined all season with an injury. Alyssa Luciano has stepped in for Dempsey and given the Pelicans excellent play at hitter.
That just shows how talented a team we are, Volpe said. When one of us gets injured we have another good player, like Alyssa, who can step up for us. Even though Pelham does not know anything about its opponents, the Pelicans will not be intimidated.
We know we are going to face tough competition, but we are not going to change our game, Volpe said. We are going to push each other to play at our highest potential and hopefully we will win.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Briarcliff and receive free news updates.
