Grubler gets honor as boro’s best player

By Marc Raimondi

With the current crop of Queens girls volleyball players, it would be hard to say they were not the city’s best.

St. Francis Prep won a fifth-straight Catholic High School Athletic Association Brooklyn/Queens Division I title and became the first team from New York City to reach the CHSAA Class AA state final since 2000. Archbishop Molloy was right behind SFP, falling to its rival in a five-set classic in the B/Q final.

In the PSAL, Cardozo won a second-straight PSAL city title, beating another Queens team, rival Francis Lewis, in the Class A final. A non-Queens school has not won it all in the PSAL since 2006.

All-Queens girls’ volleyball Player of the Year: Ashley Grubler, Cardozo

Leading Cardozo to its first PSAL city title in 29 years in 2010 was hard enough. But repeating? That was even more difficult.

The Judges went through trials and tribulations this season. The pressure of trying to win again with a core returning group started to get to them — Grubler, who can be her own worst critic, especially. But in the playoffs, she turned the negative energy into a positive, leading Cardozo to a second straight title, this time over rival Francis Lewis in the final.

“Ashley has turned it around,” Scarola said. “She knows she had to take on more of a vocal role and I knew she had it in her. It’s great to watch high school kids finally realize they had it in them and they all of a sudden take it upon themselves to do that.”

All-Queens girls’ volleyball Coach of the Year: Kevin Colucci, St. Francis Prep

It’s been awhile since St. Francis Prep has been pushed in CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens. The Terriers lost their first league match since 2005 to rival Archbishop Molloy, only to come back stronger. SFP won a fifth-straight league title, coming back to beat Molloy in a five-set final in which Colucci pushed all the right buttons. Then the squad went to Buffalo and reached its first state championship match since 1999.

FIRST TEAM

OH Carolina Alfonso Reyes, Grover Cleveland

Perhaps the best pure athlete in New York City, Alfonso Reyes was an absolute menace for opposing defenses on the outside. But her passing was also key as Cleveland advanced to the PSAL Class A quarterfinals.

OH Ragina Anthony, Francis Lewis

She battled through a hand injury and had to be a leader as a sophomore. But when all was said and done, Anthony had an incredible season, unexpectedly leading Lewis to the PSAL Class A final.

OH Talia Colasante, St. Francis Prep

One of the hardest hitters in the city, Colasante racked up kills by the bushel and also improved upon her passing and defense. She was the MVP of the prestigious Long Beach tournament and led SFP to a fifth-straight league title.

MH Kelly Flynn, St. Francis Prep

In her first match back from a mild concussion, Flynn turned her ankle, then had 18 kills and five blocks in the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens final against Molloy. The 5-foot-11 junior emerged this year as one of the city’s top players.

L Jenna Hoffman, Archbishop Molloy

At 4-foot-11, she was always the shortest player on the court — by a lot. But no one had more heart, desire or courage, getting to every ball as if it was her last and leading Molloy back to the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division I final.

L Amy Sung, Cardozo

Cardozo Coach Danny Scarola said Sung’s improvement was the biggest reason his team won a second straight title. It’s hard to argue with him – Sung became one of the city’s best liberos.

SECOND TEAM

OH Lisa Camargo, Francis Lewis

Without Camargo’s emergence as a bonafide star outside hitter, Lewis would have never turned around its injury-plagued year. Her leadership was just as critical.

S Kendra McCalla, St. Francis Prep

If there was pressure filling in for star Julia Hannigan (now at Albany), she certainly didn’t show it. The junior became one of the best in the city at her position.

OH Kiara Pierre, St. Francis Prep

Versatility was the name of the game for Pierre. The junior was SFP’s best server, a dangerous hitter from the outside, a great passer and could also set in a pinch.

S Amanda Price, Archbishop Molloy

Splitting time with Anna Pastina, Price was a revelation at setter. The way she worked the ball around to Molloy’s bevy of hitters was impressive.

RS Emily Rabot, Archbishop Molloy

In the big matches, it always seemed like Rabot was the one coming up with the key plays. Only a sophomore, she had 10 kills in a shocking victory over St. Francis Prep.

S Ashley Tuffy, Mary Louis

Underrated because Mary Louis finished fourth in league, Tuffy had some of the best hands in the city. She led TMLA to the Cleveland final and the Cardozo semis.