By JIM MACLEAN
One look at the Section 1 Class A standings and you knew this was a big match for both teams as the John Jay volleyball team traveled to Ardsley Oct. 15.
Both teams entered the match with just one loss, and both teams played with intensity to prove they were among the top contenders for the Class A crown. In the end, it was John Jay emerging with a thrilling 3-2 victory by the scores of 25-20, 20-25, 17-25, 25-20, 15-13.
With the win, John Jay improved to 12-1 overall, while Ardsley fell to 12-2 on the season.
After winning the first game, John Jay saw the host Panthers storm back to win the next two games. Ardsley jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the fourth game, but John Jay was not rattled as the Wolves started the comeback.
“We knew they’d be gunning for us,,” John Jay senior setter Hellen Dollar said after the win. “We were not playing well the second and third sets, but we have a calm confidence on our team this year, we knew we could come back.”
Trailing 7-2 in the fourth, John Jay stormed back to make it 7-6 after an ace from Olivia Casabona. The Wolves tied it up at 12-12 on a kill from Jaime Bartley-Cohen, and the battle was on as the two teams traded points.
It was knotted up at 19-19 when the Wolves turned it up with Yana Ahmetaj recording three kills at the net and Dollar serving an ace to wrap up the 25-20 victory and send it to the deciding game five showdown.
Once again it went back and forth, until Bartley-Cohen came up with a kill and Riley Buckingham served two aces to give the Wolves an 11-9 lead. Ardsley answered and regained the lead at 13-12, but an ace from Casabona and a kill from Ahmetaj wrapped up the 15-13 win for John Jay.
“I was really proud of them, I knew they could answer, they were a little nervous, but they fought back in somebody else’s gym, they dug and fought and it was amazing to watch,” John Jay coach Tom Rizzotti said of his team. “Ardsley played great. I told them you are going to be tested from this point forward, walking into a gym knowing that team wants to be the one to give you another loss, teams are coming after us. They took a couple of punches today, stood back up and fought to the end.”
Bartley-Cohen finished with 22 kills and Ahmetaj had 21 kills as the two outside hitters continued to cause matchup problems at the net for all opponents. Casabona finished with 14 digs and four aces, while Dollar had 46 assists and two blocks.
While the usual stars came through on the big points, Rizzotti pointed out it was an all-around team effort to get the job done.
“Watch how they all move, the definition of a team,” explained Rizzotti. “We talk about ruling your role. You don’t need to be the best on the team, you need to be your best for the team and these girls embrace that.”
John Jay also defeated Lakeland last week on Oct. 8, with a three-game sweep as the Wolves won by the scores of 25-13, 25-17, 25-23. Ahmetaj had 15 kills and Bartley-Cohen had 14 kills. Dollar recorded 27 assists and Casabona had 13 digs.
Left to right, Yana Ahmetaj rises up for a slam at the net. Olivia Casabona makes a pass for the Wolves. Hellen Dollar sets one up in win over Ardsley. Jim MacLean Photos