Sports
By Don Lyons - April 12, 2007
The Edgartown bench exploded when the final point was scored. Photos by Ralph Stewart
Eagles fly high, take trophy
At the volleyball final playoff in the Edgartown school gymnasium on Monday, the previously undefeated Tisbury Tigers lost the match and the Island Cup to the Edgartown Eagles, three games to one.
Tisbury had bested Edgartown twice during the season, the Eagles' only losses. But Edgartown Coach Gary Smith's efforts to teach a scoop-set-slam style of play obviously had matured while Tisbury Coach Kevan Nichols placed his continued confidence in his players' proven ability to return the ball over the net often enough to outlast opponents, a strategy that had earned the team seven straight wins. In Monday's playoff finals it was not enough.
Game one was the closest, which Edgartown won in tie-breakers, 28-26.
The second game was a one sided win for Tisbury, 25-14. With Maddy Penicaud serving, the Tigers took a 9-3 lead and never looked back.
Edgartown returned the favor in game three, a 25-13 win. Eva Faber's overhand slap serves gave the Tigers fits and she ended the game with an ace.
In the fourth game, Edgartown jumped out to a commanding 17-4 lead and coasted to a 25-14 conclusion. Dan Durawa's overhand ace ended the contest.
With volleyball season over, the schools look forward to competing on baseball and softball fields, beginning Tuesday, May 1.
Heat captain Sandy Fisher tries to contain Asil Cash, not an easy task.
Heat warm to the task
The Heat overcame a 24-point half-time deficit to catch and pull away from the Legends in the first of the best 2-of-3 RCBL playoff championship series, Monday, at the Boys & Girls Club. Final score: Heat 94, Legends 68.
The first half of the game was the Cash and Monte show. Monte Bizzarro scored 18 points, Asil Cash 22. Damon Mello and Victor Cruz kept the Heat from freezing, each with 10 points. Eight of Mello's came from the foul line, six of Cruz's from beyond the arc. At the break, the Legends were up, 50-36.
It was the Legends that froze in the second half, scoring only 18 points in the final 24 minutes. Meanwhile, Jason Dyer (16) and Sandy Fisher (11) warmed to the task and Mello continued his assault adding 10 more points in each of the final periods.
Cash and Mello had team highs: 32 for Asil, 30 for Damon.
The professional officiating of Pat Mercier and Jim Rankin brooked no complaints.
The second playoff game was played last night. A third, if necessary, will be on Friday.
Freshman Ali Flake fills the first singles slot.
Girls varsity wins
After losing the first two matches to strong Barnstable and Sandwich squads, the young M.V. girls varsity tennis team put one in the win column versus Chatham, Saturday.
Team ace freshman Ali Flake disposed of her opponent quickly, 6-0, 6-0. At second singles, Haley Koorse, a sophomore, disposed of hers, 6-1, 7-5. Paula Corts, another soph, completed the singles sweep, 6-1, 6-4.
At first doubles Teanna Montoya and Lana Ho won, 6-1, 7-5. Meghan Pettit and Chelsea Counsell won by forfeit. Three of the four doubles players are freshmen.
New girls tennis coach Grace Bochicchio can look down the road with confidence.
Tuesday, the M.V. girls lost their match with Cape Cod Academy here, 4-1. Ali Flake won her match at first singles in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1. CCA won all the rest in straight sets.
Nica Sylvia scoops a ground ball and heads netward, pursued by Whalers.
Boys lacrosse lose to Nantucket there, girls beat Whalers here
The boys lacrosse game at Nantucket last Thursday was worthy of the long-standing rivalry between the two Island schools.
The lead changed hands seven times before Nantucket prevailed in overtime, 7-6. The Vineyard held a two-point edge at the half, 5-3, and the score was tied at the end of regulation.
With half a minute left in the second OT period, the Whaler's Will Martin found a way past Mark Levesque, who had 13 saves in the game, three in overtime.
Taylor Pierce had a hat trick for the Vineyard. Riley Dobel scored once and assisted twice. Peter Ferrini and Duncan Meyst also scored. It was Nantucket's first win and the Vineyard's first loss.
MV's second loss was to an impressive and physical Sandwich team, Saturday. The Knights ran to an 8-1 lead at the half. The Islanders outscored their guests in the second frame, but could not come closer than the final count, 11-7.
Tuesday, the Islanders climbed back on the winning trail at home, besting Bourne, 8-3. Riley Dobel scored half of the M.V. goals. Goalie Marc Levesque stopped 13 of 16 shots on goal
Girls edge Brits
The girls lacrosse team started the season with a 6-4 international win over visiting Westonbirt of England, Wednesday. The Brits said they felt at home with the chilly, wet Vineyard weather. All of the MV goals were scored by sophomores: Ana Cristina Jurczyk, Alexa Fisher, Sophie Lew, Lauren Petkus, and Christina Wiley who scored twice.
Friday the Islanders hosted Dartmouth, an aggressive team that consistently beat the Vineyard to ground balls and beat them on the scoreboard, 12-4. M.V. goals were by Sarah Sylvia, Jane Alexander, and Kate Cecilio (2). Freshman Savannah Lawson filled in for injured goalie Zoe Fisher and made 20 saves.
Saturday, at Walpole, the Islanders took a 17-4 beating. M.V. scoring was by Olivia Gross, Jane Alexander, and Laura Jernegan (2). Goalie Lawson had 14 saves
Whalers sunk
Tuesday, Nantucket came to call and suffered a 13-6 loss. The Vineyarders posted six goals before the Whalers found a way past goalie Zoe Fisher who finished the game with 14 saves. The first two M.V. goals were by Laura Jernegan. Alaina Aristide followed with two quick goals and Jane Alexander made it 5-0. Aristide upped the ante to six. Sarah Sylvia put the ball in the net before the first half was over. The score was 7-2 at the break.
Jane Alexander scored four times in the second period Both Sarah Sylvia and Laura Jernegan scored again to make up M.V.'s 13. Nantucket added four on their side of the ledger.
Coach Dripps lauded Christina Wiley's play at center and gave credit to Colleen Farrissey, Emily Carter, Sophie Lew, and Alexa Fisher for a strong Vineyard defense.
