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Girls Volleyball: Riverhead no match for Smithtown East

Riverhead volleyball player Melanie Vail 092216

The Riverhead High School girls volleyball team sees itself as a team of the future, with better days ahead. On Thursday the Blue Waves faced a team of the present, with quite an impressive past.

Smithtown East is seeking its 10th straight league championship, according to coach George Alamia, and judging by the way the Bulls played, it would not be wise to bet against them. They walked into the Riverhead gym, bringing along a large stuffed unicorn (wearing a red Smithtown East shirt) and plenty of talent.

Smithtown East, which lost to Ward Melville in last year’s Suffolk County Class AA semifinals, showed its quality against Riverhead. Junior setter Marissa Oliveri produced 13 of the team’s 20 assists as Smithtown East rolled, 25-7, 25-15, 25-12.

Undefeated Smithtown East (4-0, 3-0 League II) benefitted from 95-percent serving and five kills by Alex Colon.

Olivia Dickerson had four kills to lead Riverhead (1-4, 0-3).

Riverhead coach Kristin Andrejack said, “For us, it’s looking to the future, the up-and-comings.”

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Photo caption: Riverhead middle hitter Melanie Vail receiving a Smithtown East serve. (Credit: Robert O’Rourk)