Fox Lane volleyball falls on the court to Byram Hills

Azzy Brown slams one down for the Foxes. Blake Kolodny sets one up for Fox Lane. Victoria Schmiegel rises for a hit at the net. Alexa DeMartino makes a pass. Photos by Jim MacLean

By JIM MACLEAN 

Each game was a little closer as the Fox Lane girls varsity volleyball team tried to rally against Byram Hills, but in the end it was the Bobcats closing it out for a 3-0 victory over the Foxes by the scores of 25-11, 25-16, 25-20.

Fox Lane hosted Byram Hills on Monday, Sept. 29, and the Foxes knew they were in for a tough challenge against a strong Bobcats team expected to challenge for a sectional title. The Bobcats came out strong and pulled away to take the first game before the Foxes started to settle in. The third game went back and forth, but it was too little too late as the Bobcats were able to close it out.

“This has been typical of our entire season, we have moments where we look really great and then we struggle,” said Fox Lane coach Kelli Kinlin. “They want to do well, and mentally it’s tough because they’re trying so hard. We need to put it together a little more consistently, it’s a work in progress and they’re really working hard.”

After dropping the first two games, Fox Lane fell behind in the third before rallying back. The Foxes trailed 6-2, but tied it up at 8-8 with a run highlighted by kills from Ava Rose Kalachian and Azzy Brown to pull even.

Byram Hills pulled ahead 12-8, but once again the Foxes stormed back led by senior middle hitter Victoria Schmiegel as she registered a kill, two blocks, and a tip for another point as the Foxes tied it up at 14-14.

The Foxes fell behind 21-15, but battled back once again. After an ace from Evangeline Santos and points won at the net by Brown, Schmiegel and Jordyn Forlenza, the Foxes had cut it down to 23-20, but the Bobcats were able to close out the victory for a 3-0 sweep.

It was a tough loss against a good team, but the Foxes are showing improvement and coming together as a team after being hard by graduation. Three starters return from last year with several players trying out new positions and trying to bring it together for a strong finish on the season.

“We have six seniors so they lead the way in terms of leadership,” Kinlin said of her roster. “On the court we run everything through our seniors Azzy Brown on the outside and Tori Schmiegel in the middle. If the pass is good they’ll put it away almost every time.”

Getting the ball to the hitters is up to setters Alexa DeMartino and Blake Kolodny as the Foxes are trying out a new 6-2 system on the court this season with two setters available. DeMartino is a junior returning varsity starter while Kolodny is a newcomer as a freshman.

“Alexa has been with me on varsity since she was a freshman, and our other setter Blake is a freshman, so we’re running a 6-2 through them and we’re seeing vast improvement,” Kinlin said of her setters. “We have a handful of returning players in new positions. Evangeline Santos was an outside hitter and she took over the libero role and has been doing a great job.”

Fox Lane will try to bounce back as the Foxes host rival John Jay on Friday, Oct. 3, and then host Carmel on Monday, Oct. 6.