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Third Times a Charm for State Champion Blue Devils
Haldane shakes Randolph to claim 1st NYS volleyball title since 1998
by Ray Gallagher
 | | Haldane captains Danielle Etta and Caitlin McConville hoist the hardware after the Blue Devils secured the NYSPHSAA Class D volleyball title Sunday in Glens Falls. |
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If the Haldane High volleyball team is going to return to this town any time soon, Glens Falls is definitely going to need a bigger bomb shelter, what with the way Coach Joel Stanford's Blue Devils blew away the field of competition. With bombs bursting in air
hroughout the two-day affair, the Haldane Blue Devils put on an All-American, star-studded display; captivating the Blue Devil faithful at the NYSPHSAA Class D volleyball tournament with one of its most dominant performances ever en route to the school's first New York State volleyball title since 1998.
Looking like the best team in the state regardless of classification on Saturday, Haldane swept pool play with a 6-0 mark and advanced to Sunday's championship where the Blue Devils (32-1-3 overall, 23-0 section/state play) reeled off a 3-1 victory over twoime
reigning state champion Randolph (21-4), which did not go down without a fight.
Three-time defending Section 1 champion Haldane defeated Section 6 champion Randolph in four sets by scores of 22-25, 25-28, 25-21, 25-18 after sweeping the Cardinals by counts of 25-14 and 25-12 in pool play action, but the usually-reliant Haldane bombs were not without duds in the first championship set, which Randolph dominated with an aerial display of its own.
Without question, though, Coach Joel Stanford's Blue Devils came to the Falls with unfinished business, having lost in the state finals each of the past two seasons to the very same Cardinals, and the Blue Devils regrouped in time to stave off a third-straight heartbreaking setback.
"There we just so many emotions running through our heads in the beginning," senior co-captain Caitlin McConville said after nailing 29 of Haldane's 66 kills. "We were pumped but we really didn't know how to get it together at first. We got behind and we
eally didn't know how to deal with that. Luckily, we all brought it together. This was our time. It's about time. Everyone is so excited. We wanted this from Day 1, since suicides in pre-season."
Suicide is being one set down to Randolph, which, after winning the first game, held a 7-3 series lead over the Blue Devils dating back to 2005. The Blue Devils composed themselves in a nick of time to accomplish a mission they had set out to do in the fall of 2005 as a bunch of baby-faced sophomores.
"This is the most amazing feeling in the world… I can't even describe it," said co-captain Danielle Etta, the libero who dropped down for a team-high 26 digs. "Everyone wants to know why I'm crying. I'm tired of losing to this team. Two years in a row we just couldn't beat them, and knowing that we finally did it in our last chance is amazing. We put nerves aside and just focused. We finally went all out in the last two games. It's amazing. We're number one and it's crazy!"
It was pretty crazy in the first game, too, but not in a good way. Digs weren't getting dug. Sets were falling short of the sweet spot. Bombs were being disarmed and sent back with alarming regularity. Eight service errors precluded any sort of roll, and, to boot, All- Section senior Megan Lyons was not coping well with the lack of success. First-year Coach Stanford pulled his big bomber from the
ineup, hoping she would calm down and refocus.
Enter, of all people, Hen Hud Coach Diane Swertfager, who is to Section 1 volleyball what Joe Torre is to the Yankees; the voice of calm and reason. Swertfager was still hanging around the Civic Center after having won her second consecutive state title with
he eight-time reigning Section 1 Class A champion Sailors. She pulled Lyons off to the side and offered words of wisdom that set
he All-NYS hitter right.
"I was really upset and my teammates helped me, but the Hen Hud coach came and over to me and she really helped me," said Lyons, who finished with 17 kills and 14 digs. "She said, 'you came here to win, so you need to get back in there and you need to focus right now'. She was very serious with me, so I just listened and went back in there. It's a great way to end a great year. It hasn't even hit me yet. It's going to be heartbreaking in some ways, knowing that this is our last time to play together… no matter what, this is it.
t's going to be one sad bus ride home, but at least we've got the state championship."
"We didn't want to relive last year," said senior Rachel Flaherty, who set the ball so well throughout the season and settled down
o do so again after a shaky first game. "Dani is an amazing passer, and I usually get a great pass from her. Then, I usually see where
he blockers are and try to get it to the hitters who are one-on-one. I know that usually Katie, Megan or Jen are just going to put it away. I usually try to set whoever is hot. All our hitters are just amazing players. You have to believe in your hitters to do the job, and I always believe in them. We're going to miss this so much. We strived for this and it's so amazing."
Coach Stanford was convinced his team would settle down, much like it did after falling behind 5-1 to Randolph on Saturday.
"It was absolutely a case of nerves," Coach Stanford said. "Yesterday (in pool play) we were smooth and relaxed. We came out here
onight in a championship setting against the same team that beat us the last two years and we weren't right. For seven of these girls who had been here the past two years, it was like they were living the ghosts of Christmas past. It starts with that first touch, and we were up tight. The passes and setting were good but not great early, which makes the hitters a little off. When you get a great ball, you can do something with it, but we were just off and tense enough where things weren't exactly what they needed to be. Give
Caitlin) and (Dani) credit for getting us refocused and allowing us to play to a level that allowed us to win. Katie was amazing. She's been like this the last two months… driven! She's such a positive influence no matter what the situation. We calmed down, took it easy and played our game. We knew we could win if we didn't make mistakes. It's time to go back and bask in the glory of a state
itle now. We should enjoy the moment."
In pool play against Chateaugay, Haldane went to work early, sweeping by scores of 25-8, 25-7. Lyons recorded her 500th kill in
he first game. Lyons and McConville, each had seven kills while Etta served 18 points in a row, with four aces. Shelter Island stood no chance, falling by scores of 25-10 and 25-6. The Blue Devils went on a 14-1 run in game one. McConville's blistering serve racked up five aces. Haldane took a 5-0 lead in game two and never looked back.
Against Randolph, McConville had five kills and the UConn-bound Etta dazzled with a splendid all-around effort. Lyons, who had five kills, crushed balls with ease off Flaherty's fine sets.
Lombardo, who smacked nine kills in the championship, added four kills during the final 10 points to put the hammer down on
he Cardinals. After a 1 hour, 45 minute delay, things were finally righted when the Cardinals and Blue Devils were back in the finals.
Haldane needed just 30 minutes to dispose the two-time defending state champions in pool play. Randolph actually led the first game 5-1, but Haldane crawled back into it before taking the lead for good on three straight service points from McConville, making
t 9-7, Haldane.
"They're so fast," Maycock said. "We had some adjustments up our sleeve that we hadn't shown the first night, but they adjusted
o our adjustments."
And, after two years of gut-wrenching, championship heartache, Rina Colamarino, Holly Whiston, Meghan Spratt, Cassie Barcavage, Michelle Cotennec, Rachel Flaherty, Danielle Etta, Jennifer Lombardo, Megan Lyons, Avery Zuvic (8 kills, 4 blocks in title tilt), Irina
mpellittiere and Caitlin McConville have the state championship plaque to prove it…
Final thoughts: With a state volleyball title in tow and a football team that, despite being seriously banged up, wound up in the state
emifinals, Haldane created a buzz around town and bolstered a reputation around the state for being one of the most athletic Class C/D schools in the state…
Please visit www.yourdirectrays.com to view photo galleries of Section 1 sports.
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