Eagles are Golden at Weekend Tri-Match

Patchogue, N.Y. — The Lady Golden Eagles (8-6) where unstoppable in their tri-match at home on Saturday against the Old Westbury Panthers (2-6) and the previosuly unbeaten William Paterson Pioneers (10-1), sweeping both games with a quick 3-0 outcome.

The Eagles set the tone immediately in their first game of the day against Old Westbury, jumping ahead to an early start and maintaining about a ten-point lead, pulling even farther ahead at the end and finishing 25-11. Going into the second set, the Panthers seemed to get back up onto their feet, tying the game at eight and going on an eight-point run later in the set to bring them within four of SJC. The Eagles were quick to recover, however, and again took the set for their own with a 25-21 finish. The last set of the match rocked the Eagles and tested their fortitude as Old Westbury fought to stay in the game.  The Panthers ultimately took the lead for the first time in this set making the Lady Eagles a bit nervous with a 12-10 score.  The SJC athletes then composed themselves and slowly regained control, taking the final set, and subsequently the match, with a 25-18 victory.

Heather Ferchland (Selden, N.Y./ Centereach) lead the offense with seven kills as AnnMarie Taggart (Wading River, N.Y./ Shoreham) slammed down six.  Julianne Tierney popped up 25 assists and Samantha Jacoby (Oakdale, N.Y./ Connetquot) had eight digs.

SJC's second match seemed to be even quicker than the first with the Eagles getting into a rhythm as William Paterson petered out. After the first set tied at four the Eagles refused to let the Pioneers achieve any sort of advantage, winning the first game clearly by five points. William Paterson attempted to put up a fight in the second set as they were able to tie the game at 10, 13, 14 and 15.  The Eagles once again pulled away at the end, asserting their dominance and ending the game at 25-21. The final set was a breeze as the Pioneers had effectively lost their steam; SJC took the third set and their second match of the day with the 25-14 triumph.

Paterson had beaten SJC earlier in the week in five sets on their home court, so it was some sweet revenge for the Eagles to end their unbeaten streak.

Tiffany Willms (Centereach, N.Y./ Centereach) had a stellar 11 kills as teammate Ferchland batted down ten.  Tierney finished with an impressive 35 assists while Jacoby came away from the second match with 22 digs.

The Lady Eagles will step onto the court again on September 28 to take on the Merchant Marine Academy as well as their fellow Skyline members, Polytechnic, in another tri-match.