Kennedy Girls Volleyball Prepares For Challenging Season

The Kennedy girls volleyball team outdid much of their competition during the 2010 season, finishing with an impressive 15-2 record.

The second of those losses came at the hands of Wantagh in the Nassau County Class A championship.

With the realignment back to ability-based groupings, reaching the finals may be tougher than in years past. Kennedy will play in Conference A-I, likely filled with the toughest competition in Nassau County. Four teams, including Kennedy, were 2010 County finalists in their respective classes. The other three were Long Beach (AA), Wantagh (A) and Manhasset (B).

The Cougars last won the coveted County title in 2008 and hope to get back to that point once again under seventh-year head coach Allan Ma.

“We know coming into the season that it’s going to be a big challenge. We only have two seniors on the team, so we are very young,” Ma said. “In my whole career, this will probably be the most competitive conference I’ve ever faced, so every game is going to be a dogfight.”

Kennedy graduated five seniors from last years’ team, including three-time All-State player Stephanie Bauman and All-County player Sam Sagendorf. Looking to replace them will be senior Heather Hulkower, an All-Conference player from 2010, as well as junior Jamie Demmett, who also earned All-Conference honors as a setter.

“We are rebuilding a team now, so we are working on our chemistry together and also our skills,” Hulkower said. “Us playing with higher teams made us a better team in the past, so I’m hoping it is going to be the same this year.”

Other players who figure to contribute to Cougars volleyball this season are juniors Kerri Stalzer and Taylor Krug, as well as sophomore Lauren Sustad. Senior Vanessa Anagnostou should also help the team as a defensive specialist. 

Along with Long Beach, Wantagh and Manhasset, Kennedy will also compete for a conference title with South Side, Herricks, Roslyn and Garden City. 

“We know that we need to be on our game working hard every single day. Our goal is to try to make it to the finals again and we know it’s not going to be easy,” Ma added.

The team will open up their schedule on the road on Sept. 12 against the Cyclones of South Side at 4:30 p.m. Their home opener is scheduled for Sept. 14 against Herricks at 5 p.m.