Girls Volleyball Lose to Smithtown West 3-1, Drop to Second Place in League III

In a matchup of two of the top girls volleyball teams in League III, Smithtown West defeated West Islip 3-1 on Monday evening. The Lions loss dropped the team into a second-place tie with the Bulls.

The Lions (7-2) got off to a fast start by winning the first game 25-19. In a see-saw contest, the Lions were up 20-18 before scoring five of the last six points to seal the game one victory. Unfortunately for the Lions, that was the last game they would win.

Smithtown West dominated the second game capped off by a nine point run in a 25-12 win. The Bulls started the third game on a 5-0 run and after West Islip cut the lead to three at 6-3, the Bulls took complete control and won the game 25-8.

Game four turned out to be another exciting back and forth matchup as the Lions came out determined and scored the first three points before the Bulls answered back with three straight of their own. The Lions led most of the game but the Bulls were able to rattle off four straight points to take a 20-19 lead. The Bulls closed out the game and the match with a 25-21 win.

"I think we still have to talk more," head coach Jim Klimkoski said. "Communication on the court isn't where we should be. We're [14] games in and the ball is landing in between two people. We beat ourselves 110 percent and…gave away a good six or seven points per game today.

"They [Smithtown West] deserved to win and outplayed us. I don't want to say we totally beat ourselves because they played well."

Lauren Flicker had nine kills and five aces while Shannon Forbes had six kills, two aces and 18 assists to lead Smithtown West. Erin Byrnes led the Lions with 10 kills, Taylor Kordich had six kills and Erin McGloin added five kills and two blocks.

The loss dropped West Islip behind Smithtown East (8-1) and into a tie with Smithtown West. The Lions have clinched a spot in the playoffs, but will now have a lower seed.

"Now we go to being tied for second in our league and I don't know where we're going to stand now," Klimkoski said. "We still have four league matches so we have to win those. We're definitely in the playoffs and will probably be placed anywhere from seventh to tenth."

The Lions return to action right away on Tuesday, Oct. 20, against Newfield (2-5) at 4 p.m.

"I want to see more communication and helping one another," Klimkoski said. "If you make a bad play keep your head up, don't put it down and start sulking. Physically we're there with everyone…it's just the mental aspect of the game that has to change.