Finley Girls’ Volleyball Struggles
There were plenty of young and eager players, but the J. Taylor Finley Middle School girls’ volleyball team struggled this winter, finishing with a 1-9 mark under head coach Caroline Reilly.
The Falcon squad featured an astonishing 31 players, including 24 seventh graders. Reilly said it was the first time the roster reached 30. “They were very energetic and eager to learn,” the coach said. “Most had never played volleyball and didn’t know very much.”
Despite many losses, players remained upbeat. “They were never discouraged,” Reilly said, adding the team was “a great group of girls.” The highlight of the year came when Ellen Byrnes rallied from behind against Northport to serve nine consecutive points. “Northport took a time-out to try and break her serve, but her concentration was too much,” Reilly said. “We won the game and the match.”
Despite the lopsided won-lost record, Finley put some talented players on the court. “Lucy Lavelle turned out to be a clutch server for the team,” Reilly said. “Kim Smith and Summer Ruddish anchored the team with strong passing skills and outside hitting.”
A group of skilled seventh graders “improved and were there in many games,” the coach said. These players included Marygrace Trousdell and Tara and Ellyn Byrnes, serving, spiking and blocking, Nicole Russo diving for balls, Daniella Schoen saving balls and Lindsay Sullivan and Katie Nugent setting balls from all over the court.
“We anticipate doing very well next year,” Reilly said. “The second half of the season we were competitive with all teams and matches could have gone either way.
Falcon Facts: Mackenzie Maloney (48) and Kim Smith finished 1-2 in passes with 48 and 35, respectively . . . Lucy Lavelle, Kim Smith and Summer Ruddish captained the team . . . Tara Byrnes led Finley in spikes with 15 . . . Lavelle was tops in serves with 46 . . . Lavelle and Lindsay Sullivan led in sets with 15 apiece . . . Byrnes and Marygrace Trousdell with six blocks each, tied for the team lead in that category . . .Smith and Daniella Schoen tied for the lead in saves with five each.
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