Sports

CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens girls volleyball championship preview

Archbishop Molloy’s Jenna Hoffman had 37 digs in the semifinals against Fontbonne Hall. (Damion Reid)

NYPOST.com girls volleyball beat writer Marc Raimondi takes a look at Thursday’s CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division I girls volleyball championship at 6:30 p.m. between St. Francis Prep and Archbishop Molloy at St. Francis Prep.

St. Francis Prep Terriers

Head coach: Kevin Colucci

Record: 11-0

Player to watch: Talia Colasante

Archbishop Molloy Stanners

Head coach: Steve Leoutsakos

Record: 8-4

Player to watch: Jenna Hoffman

Outlook: These two teams have played twice this year and both times St. Francis Prep has walked away winning both. Chances are, though, this championship match won’t look anything like the past two meetings.

Archbishop Molloy comes in as a heavy underdog, but the Stanners are also on fire and playing their best volleyball of the season. If not for blowing a late lead, Molloy would have swept favorite Fontbonne in the semifinals last week.

Everything was working right for coach Steve Leoutsakos’ team, from sophomore libero Jenna Hoffman’s pinpoint passing to great setting by senior Sam Lynch and sophomore Anna Pastina to powerful hitting by sophomore Madeline Casello and Kate Mulvihill. Molloy was missing senior captain Ariella Levine the previous time against Fontbonne and her emotional presence – and all-around strong game – made all the difference. The Stanners just don’t play as well without her leadership.

St. Francis Prep coach Kevin Colucci has always said that a good team starts with passing and there might not be anyone better than that in the city than Hoffman, who ironically Colucci coaches with the Creole club program. The pint-sized sophomore got to absolutely everything against Fontbonne.

But St. Francis Prep is going to bring a more diverse and powerful offense than the Bonnies. No one in New York City has a more powerful swing than Terriers junior outside hitter Talia Colasante. Senior outside hitter Julia Paternoster is right up there and middles Caitlin O’Doherty and Kelly Flynn were the main reason why SFP got by Mary Louis in the semifinals.

Of course, in order for all of that to run smoothly, Prep needs libero Rita Romeo, who has filled in admirably for graduated Post All-City libero Jillian Linares, to play well. If the ball gets anywhere near senior setter Julia Hannigan, arguably the best at her position in the city, the Terriers will be in good hands.

For Molloy to win, it needs to ride that wave of emotion from last week and keep the pressure on St. Francis. The Stanners are at their very best when they’re playing loose and free. They can’t have any fear. The Terriers, on the other hand, just need to play their game, not play from behind and keep the mistakes to a minimum. If that happens, they will be the four-time CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens champions.

mraimondi@nypost.com