Horace Mann’s Christine Moon (11) tips over Poly Prep’s Cherkira Lahley (23). (Damion Reid)
Horace Mann was a cellar dweller in the Ivy League seven years ago when Jason Torres took over as coach. The Lions went without a title for three decades and ever putting another trophy in the case seemed like a long shot.
“We were like the alternative to phys ed class,” Torres said. “We had to take baby steps.”
Horace Mann has already made a complete turnaround. And Wednesday the program solidified itself even more as the top one in the Ivy League with a 25-15, 25-21 win over host Poly Prep to take home a second straight title, its third in four years.
“Whether it’s playing club or not, they’ve all put in a lot of work,” senior right side hitter Zoe Kestan said. “That is definitely one of the main contributing factors to why we’ve won and why we’ve improved so much, because now people are really willing to take it an extra step.”
Mann (9-1) didn’t have to stage a turnaround against Poly (7-3). The Lions got off to a 10-3 start early and never looked back in the first set. The play of sophomore middle hitter Rachel Lander was paramount. She had all four of her blocks in the first game and helped slow down Poly middles Lily Donahue and Cherkira Lashley.
“She faces them often, because they’re basketball players,” Torres said. “It was almost like a psychological battle. It almost sets a tone for the winter.”
From there, Horace Mann’s versatile offensive attack led the way. For the first time since the beginning of the season, the Lions had everyone on the court healthy. Outside hitter Christine Moon returned Monday against Dalton after sitting out a few weeks with inflamed and stretched ligaments in her right wrist. She was supposed to be out for the season, but had what she described as a “miraculous recovery.”
Moon ended up with five kills, the same total as outside hitter Ashley Reid. Kestan, who had two huge service aces and a well-placed kill late in the second set, had four kills. There was rarely that much spreading of the wealth last year when the Lions relied mostly on star outside hitter Lavinia Anzai. This year’s team might not have a superstar, but it might even be deeper than last.
“One of the things we pride ourselves upon this year is that there’s so much team bonding, so much team effort in games and volleyball, of course, is a team sport,” Moon said. “So everyone stepped it up. Everyone’s at a level where they can contribute the same amount.”
Setter Miranda Shapiro had 16 assists and senior libero Margot Penn made things run smoothly with her passing, as usual. Horace Mann, which has won 11 straight matches including non-leagues, doesn’t have a decipherable weakness. The Lions have a good shot at earning the top seed in the NYSAISAA tournament, which begins next Thursday.
Though they have made the semifinals and finals the last two years, the one thing they have not accomplished in their incredible run is a state title.
“This year is the year,” Kestan said. “We really, really want to win. I think starting with my class, the seniors, is when the club volleyball and the year round volleyball started to pick up. That was the first year that all the commitment is coming together. That’s why we need to win.”