It took nearly an entire season for Francis Lewis to get stars Alicja Pawelec and Jillian Escobar to serve as well as they did – together.
“I would get games where one of them would have a good game and the other would be OK,” Patriots coach Arnie Rosenbaum said.
Both were superb for top-seeded Francis Lewis’ in a 25-7, 25-13 win over No. 8 McKee/Staten Island Tech in the PSAL Class A quarterfinals at Hunter College Wednesday.
Pawelec, who recorded eight kills, four digs and six aces, had been in a funk the last few weeks serving. Escobar had six kills, seven digs and four aces. She is becoming more and more consistent with her jump serve. They combined for seven aces in the first set to allow the Patriots to pull away.
“I don’t think we have had as big of a service run as we did today the whole season,” Pawelec said.
Francis Lewis (12-0) led 9-4 when the spurt of began and were ahead 20-6 when it finally ended. Escobar had three straight at one point. Even when a serve wasn’t perfect the Patriots had MSIT (12-3) back on its heels, responding defensively and unable to get many offensive sets developed.
“Our serve receive is something we have been trying to work on all season,” Sea Gulls senior Kristen Markoe said. “We are a young team. It’s hard with a young team out there.”
The Patriots, who were uncharacteristically out of sync in a second round win over Edison Sunday, did all the little things right in the second set. Euginia Anthony and Dominika Mrozowska, who added 20 assists, helped keep long rallies alive and their height advantage at the net with Pawelec and Chereese Sheen allowed them to win the volleys, with either a block or kill.
“It’s a team effort,” Escobar said. “We have people picking it up in the back, setting up so we can put it down.”
Rosenbaum was quick to point out the play of Anthony. He said he tells the rest of his girls they better call for a ball or she will likely find a way to get to it and keep the play alive herself.
“She plays like the ball is not going to hit the floor on our side,” he said.
His team moves a step closer to winning an unprecedented third straight city title. Waiting for Lewis in the semifinals is No. 5 Midwood at 5 p.m. Friday at Hunter. The Hornets can match the Patriots, who struggled hitting around blocks in the second round, in size. Pawelec believes that Edison match will leave them better prepared for Midwood in the hopes of playing for another title.
“That’s exactly what we’re fighting for,” Escobar said of the championship. “We want to leave a legend behind.”