By Rob Potter
MONTICELLO — September 12, 2003 – Utilizing a quick start in each game, Tuxedo defeated Monticello Wednesday afternoon in a non-league volleyball match.
Tuxedo (4-0) stormed out to a 12-1 lead in the first game behind the strong serving of Angela Stuma. The Lady Tornadoes went on to win the game, 25-10.
After Tuxedo took the second game as well, Monticello (3-1) rallied to win the third game. But the Lady Tornadoes closed out the match in the fourth game to earn the 25-10, 25-22, 17-25, 25-19 victory.
Behind Stuma’s serving, Tuxedo grabbed an early 5-0 lead in the second game. But the Lady Panthers evened the game at 16-16 and 17-17 a few moments later and then took an 18-17 lead on a kill by Jenna Boyce.
However, Tuxedo outscored Monticello by an 8-4 margin the rest of the game.
In the third game, Monticello seemed to grab some of the match’s momentum. Senior Deirdre Smith recorded several kills as the Lady Panthers won the game, 25-17.
But in the fourth game, Tuxedo again grabbed an early lead. The Lady Tornadoes went ahead by 8-2 and 12-7 margins enroute to the 25-19 win.
“No excuses, they were the better team tonight,” Monticello Coach Karen Atack said.
Leading Tuxedo to the win were seniors Desiree Hofmann and Ellen O’Leary as well as Stuma, who is a junior. Hofmann had 12 digs, nine kills, two assists and an ace, O’Leary recorded 25 assists and three kills and Stuma finished with 13 kills, seven aces and three digs.
For Monticello, Smith had 16 kills, 14 blocks, 13 digs, 10 service points and two assists. Lisa Forget recorded 11 service points, five assists, four digs, two blocks and an ace and Marissa Smithem added 12 service points, two aces, an assist and a dig.
“It’s so hard to put the ball down against Monticello,” Tuxedo Coach Donna Worth said. “They pick up everything. They are probably the best defensive team we’ll face this season.”
Worth noted that her team wanted to control the tempo of the match.
“Monticello is a fast-paced team,” she said. “We wanted to slow them down a bit and that’s what our players did.”
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Atack noted that her team lost eight players from the 2002 squad. Last fall, the Lady Panthers reached the Section IX Class B championship match, where they fell to New Paltz in a grueling, five-game contest.
In addition, one potential starter, junior Natalia Magalhaes, suffered an ankle injury before the season began.
“It’s going to take a little time for this team to jell and improve our skill level,” Atack said.