Quakers Beat John Jay, 3-1, in Volleyball Opener

The Horace Greeley Quakers beat the John Jay Indians 3 games to 1 in volleyball, with game scores of 25-22, 25-20, 23-25 and 25-14 for a season-opening victory Tuesday at John Jay High School.

Quaker Head Coach Gina Gomes said that despite losing momentum in the third game, her team was motivated to win it in the fourth.

"We just kind of lost focus," Gomes said. "In the fourth game there really was a different motivation to win and score."

Gomes pushed her players to serve and receive the ball effectively.

Ball control and reacting in time proved troublesome for John Jay.

John Jay Head Coach Tom Rizzotti is optimistic and not too concerned about the the team's future this season.

Rizzotti has four returnees from last year's team. 

"We just haven't gotten there yet but we will," he said.

The Quakers tied it up at 6-6 in Game 1 to eventually prevail 25-22 off of a Meryl Rosenberg kill. John Jay had cut the deficit to within two, 24-22, before Rosenberg clinched the victory.

Both teams played tough in Game 2, which was a back-and-forth contest. John Jay held a 12-10 lead before Greeley tied it up at 17-17. The score was again tied at 18 before Greeley went on to win 25-20 for the 2-0 lead in games.

John Jay prevailed in game three 25-23 on Christina Hafkemeyer's winning kill.

It wouldn't be enough, as the Quakers went ahead 22-11 in the fourth game en route to a  25-14 final.

Greeley looks to make it 2-0 in the young season at home next Monday against John Jay East Fishkill at 4:30 p.m. Meanwhile, John Jay looks to rebound Monday at home against Walter Panas in a game slated for 4:30 p.m.