By JOSEPH STASZEWSKI
Francis Lewis can thank last season’s volleyball playoff loss for the confidence and expectations it brings into this year.
The Patriots were young and inexperienced a year ago. A tight defeat, which each set decided by just two points, at the hands of semifinalist Susan Wagner in second round showed them how far they had come. Now Lewis wants to go to the next level.
“I think it put fire in our team,” junior outside hitter Jessica Kovach said. “We have the confidence to try to win now.”
The belief has turned into results early in the season. Lewis reached the playoffs of all three of its preseason tournaments, something it failed to do a year ago. The Patriots opened its PSAL season with a convincing 25-11, 25-11 victory over rival and defending city champion Benjamin Cardozo Sept. 24. It has the Patriots believing they can compete for their first city title since winning three straight from 2007-2009.
“We are coming into the PSAL with the skill we need to progress this season,” junior setter Alisha Matthews said. “We can be in the mix.”
It is the improvement of players like her and Kovach that have the Patriots thinking big. Kovach, who had nine kills against Wagner in the playoffs, has matured into the team’s top outside hitter and showed a great chemistry with Matthews in the win over Cardozo. Her athleticism allowed her to be a force wherever she was on the court.
Kovach is just one of a deep group of hitters that has Lewis Coach Arnie Rosenbum trying to get all of them playing time. Junior Felicia Lopilato, senior Jin Zhang and junior Joelle Desrosiers have all contributed early. Danna Diaz will also be called upon to contribute along with senior middle hitter Amina Durkovic.
“Now I’m trying to work them all in, make everybody happy and make us stronger,” Rosenbaum said.
Matthews is the one who makes it all go, spreading the ball around to each of them. She also came on late last seasons. Matthews will be pushed this year by sophomore setter Maria Veliz Thol, who is still learning the system. Senior libero Keiry Chavez will also be a key contributor.
“She’s really developed a lot,” Kovach said of Matthews. “She is one of our top setters. I connected really well with her.”
The team’s chemistry, talent and confidence have Lewis believing it can re-establish itself as one of the PSAL’s top clubs and make run at a city title.
“I expect that we will win the division championships and maybe get on and actually go to the [city] championship,” Kovach said. “It’s going to be a tough road.”
