West Volleyball Defeats West Islip, 3-2

While Smithtown East (12-1, 10-0 League II) dominated Northport (8-3, 8-2 League II) to stay on top, Smithtown West (6-5, 6-4 League II) battled it out with West Islip (5-5, 5-5 League II), to keep playoff dreams alive.  Before this match, these two were deadlocked, both 5-4 in League play, and last year's champs found themselves in an awkward position. While West struggled with a heartbreaking five-setter against number two Northport, this match hopefully signaled a turning point.

Hero: Ryan Joseph's massive kill sealed the deal on West's late 5th set comeback, potentially a season-changing spike. Ryan Mahoney and Johnny Lutjen also combined for some great play, contributing to the comeback in sheer numbers.  More importantly, the front line won it for the Bulls.

Turning Point: Smithtown West started off the third set with a bang. It was a game of comebacks, whether it be digging out of the two set hole they started off in, or ultimately coming from four behind late in the 5th.  The game had turned in Islip's favor at the beginning of the 5th, but the Bulls persevered.

Quotable: "We've been letting those get away from us all year," said Coach Mike Legge. Legge himself was out-of-breath after the win. "It's really nice to finish one out like that."

Bottom Line: West needed this. Badly. This win separates them as a top four team, even in a rebuilding year. More importantly though, this win proved that they can come back from even the deepest of holes.  Through precision and power, the Bulls pushed past West Islip, who need the win just as badly. But West will take away something from this they haven't had in a while: confidence, especially in the face of adversity.

Key Stat: Kills (3rd set and later). Ryan Mahoney had a season-high 22 kills, largely due to Johnny Lutjen's 32 assists. Kills and tips helped the Bulls build momentum late, not simply relying on West Islip to screw up.

Who's Next: Smithtown West @ Bay Shore Saturday 3:45 p.m.