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Girls Volleyball Preview: Trelewicz takes over as Mercy’s new head coach

Bishop McGann-Mercy volleyball player Mia Behrens 090616

Jeff Trelewicz didn’t hesitate for a moment.

When Bishop McGann-Mercy athletic director Melissa Edwards asked Trelewicz if he would like to become head coach of the high school’s girls volleyball team, he didn’t need to think it over.

“I gave her [in] less than a second my response,” he said.

That response was in the affirmative.

With Jamie Calandro leaving to take a job in Maine after 12 years as Mercy’s coach, the head coaching position now belongs to his assistant for the past five years, Trelewicz.

“I love it,” Trelewicz, 30, said. “It’s great. I feel like I’m free to do what I want to do. … You really get a chance to mold the team into what I want them to be.”

Mercy (3-11 last year) will follow the lead of its senior co-captains, setter Mia Behrens and outside hitter/middle hitter Kathleen DeWitt.

Behrens was an All-League choice last year. “She is looking excellent,” Trelewicz said, adding, “She always wants to better herself. I like her decision-making.”

Trelewicz said DeWitt “is not just an athletic hitter, she’s all around a great player.”

Another senior, defensive specialist Kiernan Devaney, is back.

Everyone else on the team is new to varsity volleyball: outside hitter Chiara DePaola, opposite hitter Julianne Frie; middle hitters/blockers Mary Grace Hartmann and Hannah Tuma, outside hitter Ailsa Augustyn, defensive specialist Libby Daddi and middle hitter/outside hitter Lexie Cintron. Most of the newcomers played for the junior varsity team last year. Daddi transferred from Hampton Bays to Mercy last year but had to sit out the 2015 season because of a transfer rule.

The Monarchs have been moved down to League VIII from League VII.

Trelewicz is excited about the growth potential for his team. He said, “It’s the road ahead that I’m really looking forward to.”

Shoreham-Wading River coach Megan Johnson and Riverhead coach Kristen Andrejack did not return phone messages prior to the deadline. Shoreham went 6-10 last season and Riverhead went 2-13.

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Photo caption: Bishop McGann-Mercy has an All-League setter in senior Mia Behrens. (Credit: Garret Meade, file)