It’s true, oftentimes the flashiest players get the spotlight.
But Mattituck head coach Frank Massa wanted to make it clear post game: “They wouldn’t be doing anything if we couldn’t pass or set. But when they do get the ball out to them, boy do they put a swing on it.”
They — meaning sophomores Kathryn Zaloom and Madison Osler. The duo came up clutch when kills were needed to put away a Wheatley side that became better as the match went on.
Though Mattituck (17-4) came out strong, winning the first set handily, 25-15, the next two didn’t come as easy.
It was deadlocked at 20-20 in the second set. Both sets of fans tried to overpower each other at Suffolk County Community College’s Brentwood campus as the volley continued back and forth. That was until a perfect set went in the general direction of Zaloom and she crushed it to the ground to take the lead.
Only a sophomore, she certainly doesn’t shy away from the moment: “I want those moments. I want to be the one who makes that kill. I get this determination in myself and I know I can do it.”
Zaloom then took the ball to serve and closed out the second set, 25-20.
“That felt great,” Zaloom said. “I’m getting really confident in my serve because it improved so much.”
The third set, Wheatley (15-4) held a 22-20 lead down the stretch. Momentum seemed to be going all Wheatley’s way but The Tuckers came storming back. This time, Osler was the one putting the game away with clutch kills. She finished the game with a game-high 11 kills. Zaloom registered nine.
“We didn’t know much about them going into the game,” Osler said. “We’ve watched them but never played them. But after getting those two sets, we felt confident enough to finish the game in the third set.”
Though Wheatley battled to the end, it was Mattituck that sealed the third set, 25-23 to win in straight sets, 3-0 on Saturday morning in the Long Island Class C final.
The win marked the Tuckers fifth Long Island championship in six years. It prompted a reporter to ask coach Massa whether at this point, success is expected.
“Never say expected,” Massa said. “Because then it may not turn out the way you want. It’s always a 50-50 shot. You’ve got to work to win.”
But nevertheless the Tuckers will be on their way to play in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championship semifinals at the Glens Falls Civic Center next Saturday with the finals to be played on Sunday.
“Coach Massa thinks this is one of the best teams he has coached,” Osler said. “So as long as we’re processing kills and digging balls, we should be really good in states.”
SoutholdLOCAL photos by George Faella
