Sports

Girls Volleyball: Mercy eliminated from playoff contention

Sam Henry, one of Greenport/Southold's eight seniors, prepares to serve. Henry made 13 digs against Bishop McGann-Mercy. (Credit: Garret Meade)
Sam Henry, one of Greenport/Southold’s eight seniors, prepares to serve. Henry made 13 digs against Bishop McGann-Mercy. (Credit: Garret Meade)

CLIPPERS 25, 25, 25, MONARCHS 13, 23, 14

Jenna Standish had been looking forward to Senior Day 2014 ever since she was a freshman. The senior outside hitter and her teammates on the Greenport/Southold high school girls volleyball team found the wait to be a worthwhile one.

Standish made a special day even more memorable by her fine all-around play as the Clippers took down Bishop McGann-Mercy in three games and eliminated the Monarchs from playoff contention on Thursday. The playoff-bound Clippers played what their coach, Mike Gunther, said was one of their best matches of the season, a 25-13, 25-23, 25-14 win in their final home match of the regular season at Greenport High School.

Standish was the central figure, playing a nearly flawless match. She swung at the ball 30 times, connecting for 12 kills and committing only 2 service errors.

Supplying Standish with a steady supply of sets was Mercedes Edwards, who was credited with 29 assists. She was one of the reasons why the Clippers’ hitting game made such an impact. They put up 26 kills to 8 by the Monarchs.

The Clippers (8-6, 8-3 in Suffolk County League VIII) also received 13 digs from their senior libero, Sam Henry.

With the Greenport gym decorated with purple and white balloons, the players from both teams lined up in front of the fans for a ceremony before the match. Gunther introduced McGann-Mercy’s three seniors, who were handed flowers, and then the Clippers’ eight seniors received the same. The Greenport/Southold seniors, in turn, presented their coach with a volleyball that they had signed and wrote messages on. They also gave flowers to the junior varsity coach, Lori Marra, and other supporters of the program.

After the festivities were taken care of, the Clippers went to work. They finished the first game on an 11-2 run. In the second game, they charged out to a 19-8 lead before the Monarchs (3-9, 3-8) tied the score at 21-21. But the Clippers prevailed in that game as a valiant effort by McGann-Mercy’s Kate Sarich to dig a hit by Standish was unsuccessful on game point.

Standish, a four-year varsity player whose hitting was on, was cheered by spirited Clippers fans who yelled out, “Jenna! Jenna!” Fittingly, she capped off the match with her fourth service ace of the day.

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