RHS Volleyball
Garnets Spiking the Competition

“Quit” was not a word in the Garnets’ vocabulary September 17 at home against Edgemont.
The volleyball team trailed by as many as eight points in the opening game of the best-of-five match with the Panthers, but buckled down and rallied to win 25-19. Riding the momentum from their comeback, the Garnets defeated Edgemont 3-1 (25-19, 25-18, 19-25, 25-19) and improved their record to 4-1. The loss was Edgemont’s first of the season.
“Our hitting is looking strong,” said junior Molly Smalt, who has 18 aces on the season. “We have the potential to go far this season.”
The Garnets led the second game wire-to-wire, and after a setback in the third, used great teamwork and finesse to finish the Panthers off. Junior Jillian Chittenden led the team in kills with 10, while junior Alexis Ehrlich bailed Rye out by getting low to collect 12 digs. Samantha Lee, also a junior, set up her teammates time and again with 28 assists.
In addition to their four match play victories, the Garnets won the Sleepy Hollow Tournament in early September. Juniors Rebecca Choron and Lee were named to the All-Tournament team. Choron is second on the team in kills this season with 21. Chittenden has 23.
Rye appears to have picked up where 2007’s turnaround team left off. The junior-led squad swept opponents in their first three wins, and is benefiting from the playing time experienced as sophomores.
The Garnets’ next match is October 2 in a rematch with Edgemont on the road.
–      Melanie Cane