In relation to Tottenville, John F. Kennedy might as well be in another state. The Pirates play their home games down in Huguenot, while the Knights are way up in the west Bronx. But for Tots coach Rhiannon Smith, they might as well be in the same division.
Two years in a row, Kennedy has knocked Tottenville out of the playoffs. Smith envisions a rematch in November.
“I have this feeling it’s gonna happen again this year,” she said.
And, if it does, she feels like Tottenville will be prepared. This is probably the most talented group the third-year coach has had and, as a result, Smith has raised the bar. A trip to the quarterfinals, maybe even a PSAL Staten Island A division title, could be on the agenda.
“It’s not necessarily being No. 1 on the Island, it’s how far you make it in the playoffs,” Smith said. “I’m working hard to take that No. 1 position on the Island, but my main goal is to get further in the playoffs. I think we have a really good chance. I think we’re gonna give [Wagner] a run for [its] money this year, too.”
The Falcons, of course, have won three straight undefeated Island titles. Under Smith, the Pirates have gone from near the bottom of the division to third-place and second-place finishes, respectively, the past two seasons.
Can this group keep the progress going? Smith thinks so. Back is setter Song Hee Han, a New York Post All-City honorable mention selection in 2010, and outside hitters Sarah Shin and Sara Hwang. Tottenville also has Nicole Bellini, an excellent athlete and softball standout, stepping in at right side to go along with inexperienced middles Hui Shaw Son and Arlina Marke. Sophomore Iryna Perkhalyuk, a 6-foot middle, will also see time.
Known for its defense in recent years, Smith thinks her team’s hitting has risen to that same level.
“I’m trying to add the hitting on to the defense,” Smith said. “We’re still very strong defensively. The hitters have all developed more and we have the same good defense.”
With that being said, the coach still thinks defense is the key. As good as Tottenville has been at that aspect of the game, the Pirates weren’t as effective against the elite teams.
“The big key is going to be our speed on the court, being able to defend against the Wagner girls and the Kennedy girls,” Smith said. “I think it’s gonna be our quick defensive moves.”
That scrappiness is something Kennedy made popular in the PSAL. Smith just can’t seem to shake the Knights.
“I think we have a really good chance this year to beat Kennedy and make it further in the playoffs,” she said.
The postseason is just something McKee/Staten Island Tech wants to make right now. For the first time in eight years, the Seagulls didn’t finish with an above-.500 record.
“It was very disappointing last year not making the playoffs,” coach Dave Mahon said.
For the first time ever, Mahon ran no-cut tryouts in the spring and urged his players to come back in better shape and, for the most part, the plan has worked. As far as how it will translate to the court, that remains to be seen.
MSIT will have a significant hole at setter after Shelby Nemec left the school for Kentucky, where her father, who is in the Coast Guard, is now stationed. Eleanor McCabe, Kaitlin Geraghty and Keith Ilagan are all competing for that job. Outside hitters Arianna Kee and Jenny Shin and middle hitters Molloy Duffy and Amanda Mondello are all back, as is Joanne Ling. Blayse Halvorsen, the school’s ace softball pitcher, will also see time.
New Dorp, which brings back star outside/middle Kaitlin O’Brien from a playoff team, will also compete on Staten Island.