Smithtown East dropped the first three points in the final set of the county championship but showed no panic. The reigning Class AA champions instead responded with a run to propel themselves to a title.
Top-seeded Smithtown East scored 10 straight points in the final set as it defeated No. 2 Half Hollow Hills West, 25-23, 20-25, 20-25, 25-19, 15-8, in the girls volleyball Suffolk Class AA final at Suffolk Community College on Monday night.
Autumn Fichtelberg had a kill and two aces to give Hills West the first three points of the fifth set. Skyla Sullivan’s kill ended the run and her ace gave Smithtown East a 4-3 lead. Four different players had a kill during Smithtown East’s 10-0 run, including two from Brianna Cerullo.
“When you’re down, it’s all about finding the momentum,” Cerullo said. “You have to outwork the other team and want it more than they do. We just played for each other.”
Cerullo had back-to-back kills in the set to give the Bulls match point and an error by Hills West ended it. The senior finished with a team-high 17 kills.
Smithtown East (17-0) will play the Nassau champion in the Long Island Class AA championship on Nov. 11 at Nassau Community College. Smithtown East was defeated by Garden City in last year’s Long Island Class AA championship.
“We’re going to do whatever it takes to keep going,” Cerullo said. “Keep working harder than everyone and continue to progress.”
Cerullo’s run at the service line late in the fourth set allowed the Bulls to force the deciding fifth. The senior had three aces during a 6-0 run, giving Smithtown East a 24-17 lead.
“She really turned that game around," middle hitter Samantha Keil said. “She played great and got us back in it. We were able to take things from there.”
Smithtown East took the first set, scoring the final three points, with two coming on Cerullo’s kills.
“Brianna Cerullo is our rock, our leader. She’s our only team captain." Smithtown East coach George Alamia said. “She always steps up and anchors us. When the waters get rough, she steadies the ship. “
Hills West jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the second after Ella Corso’s kill. Her seventh kill of the set ended it. The Colts took the third set, scoring the final three points on Emily Dantona’s kill and back-to-back kills from Gabby Williams.
Hills West (16-4) will receive an at-large bid into the state tournament and face the Section IV champion at a date to be determined. The Colts won county championships the previous two seasons and a state championship in 2024.
Christopher Matias covers high school sports for Newsday after spending time in Athletic Facilities and Operation at St. John’s and in Sports Information at CUNY York college.
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