The Classical volleyball seniors wrapped up their careers on a winning note at home on Monday. From left are Adrianna Raymond, Brenda Oum and Kim Eldred. (Courtesy Photo)

By Joyce Erekson / The Daily Item

LYNN - The Classical High volleyball team missed qualifying for the state tournament by one game, but the Rams took home a pretty good consolation prize Monday when they rallied from two games down to defeat St. Mary's, 3-2, at Classical.

The Rams had to win their final three games of the season to qualify for the tournament, but a loss to Salem last week put the tournament out of reach. A win over English last Friday took away a bit of the sting, and coming back against the Spartans in the season finale softened the blow a little more.

When St. Mary's won the first two games, 25-23, 25-23, it looked like the Rams might be heading out to trick-or-treat before the streetlights came on. Classical regrouped during the break and came back to take Game 3, 25-9. The final two were heart stoppers with the Rams pulling out a 25-22 win in Game 4 and a 15-11 win in the deciding match.

"I was so happy for our seniors," Classical coach Frank Grealish said. "St. Mary's played tough. They're well coached. They beat us pretty soundly the first time around on their home court."

Grealish said the fact his players were able to rebound after falling behind two games to none shows how far they've come this season.

"If this happened at the beginning of the season, they wouldn't have fought through the down part," Grealish said. "Coming back showed a lot of maturity on their part."

Freshman Cassie D'Agostino was key in the win, serving eight points in Game 3. She also served well in the final two games. Brenda Oum also came up big from the serving line in the final game, nailing five straight to bring back the Rams from a 6-10 deficit to an 11-10 advantage.

St. Mary's coach Dave Giarusso credited Classical with playing a good match.

"We just didn't have the fire to beat them," Giarusso said. "We're up 2-0 and then it seemed like we sat back on our heels, like we had it in the bag. Meanwhile, Classical woke up. They outplayed us. They outserved us. I compliment the coach. They subbed well on the serve."

In the deciding match, the two teams battled to an 11-11 tie before the Rams pulled away for the final four points.

Grealish said it was disappointing to miss the tournament by one game, but he said the players saw just how much they had improved from the start of the season to the finish. The Rams finish with a 7-6 record. Last year, in their first year as a program, they only won two matches.

"To go from two wins to seven wins is great for us," Grealish said. "The whole (Northeastern) conference has improved."

Originally Published on Saturday, October 29, 2011 By Joyce Erekson / The Daily Item

The Classical High volleyball team made it a sweep with a 3-0 win over rival English Friday at Classical.

The Rams (6-9) won 25-10, 25-22, 25-19 led by senior co-captain Brenda Oum, who did an excellent job setting and spiking the ball. Phaedra Mahu had a strong game serving as well as five or six kills.

"It was senior night," Classical coach Frank Grealish said. "Our seniors played well. It's a nice rivalry ... English played well. Both teams are much improved."
 

 By Joyce Erekson / The Daily Item

LYNN - The Classical High volleyball team is picking up steam as it heads into the homestretch of its second season.

The Rams defeated Swampscott, 3-1, Monday at Classical and although there is still a hill to climb to reach the postseason, optimism reigns on O'Callaghan Way these days. Classical is 5-8 with games remaining against Salem, English and St. Mary's. The Rams need to win all three to qualify for the state tournament.

"The girls looked good today," Classical coach Frank Grealish said, adding that Swampscott is much improved since the two teams met earlier in the season.

The Rams won the first game, 25-12, with junior Bobbie Dee Regan serving nine straight points to put the Big Blue in the rear view mirror. The Rams led 11-6 when Regan stepped to the line and by the time the run ended, Classical had built up a 20-6 lead.

Classical continued to control play in the second game, only this time it was senior Adriana Raymond, who broke open what had been a one-point game with some steady serving. Classical pulled away, taking a 19-14 lead, and ended up winning the second game, 25-16.

Game 3 was the pick of the day for volleyball aficionados. Both teams made some huge plays to keep the score to within two or three points the entire way. The score was tied at 11, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 24 and 25 before the Big Blue finally put the game away, 27-25.

The Rams dominated in the fourth game with Raymond once again opening up some breathing room by serving six points in a row early on to give Classical an 8-1 lead. The Rams' lead went to 16 at one point before the Big Blue (1-9) got a few back. Classical won the game, 25-8.

"I think it comes down to a lack of game experience," Swampscott coach Chip Emery said.

Marina Sanchez was the bright spot for Swampscott with five kills and six blocks.

"She played a fantastic game," Emery said.

Grealish was very happy with his team's performance and in the progress it has made over the course of the season.

"They're passing, setting, spiking ... that's what the game is all about," he said, citing in particular the play of freshman Cassie D'Agostino.

"She has a lot of natural ability," Grealish said. "She's passing the ball really well."

Grealish said Raymond is peaking at the right time with her serving and Brenda Oum is also playing well. Senior Kim Eldred also had a good game for the Rams.

"They're playing better as a team," he said. "They're getting the team concept and they're getting the importance of making that extra play, setting it up."

Grealish said Regan and D'Agostino feed off each other.

"They're getting that pass and set thing, even though neither of them is particularly tall," he said.

The Rams will play Salem Wednesday, English Friday and St. Mary's on Monday. The other good news for Classical is the success of its junior varsity team, which, under coach Frank DeLuca, is 11-1.
 

Classical 3, Beverly 1

At Beverly, the Rams lost the first game, 22-25, but won the next three, 25-21, 25-17, 25-22. Adriana Raymond and Brenda Oum both played well in the win.

------------------------------------------------------------

Revere 3, Classical 0

At Classical, the Patriots won 25-17, 25-22 and 25-14. Cassie D'Agostino and Adrianna Raymond played well in the loss.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Classical score impressive win

By Jerry DiStefano / For The Item

The Classical volleyball team avenged an early-season loss to Saugus, defeating the Sachems, 3-0, at Classical Thursday.

Classical took a tight first game (25-21) and from that point on cruised (25-6, 25-14).

Leading the way for Classical was Cassie D'Agostino and Phaedra Mehu.

Classical coach Frank Grealish was ecstatic with his team's performance.

"My girls played very well today.

"This was really a nice bounce back game for my girls to defeat a team they lost to not to long ago," Grealish said.

Classical is now 3-5.

Classical players Ivy Martin, far left, and Kim Eldred battle at the net with Saugus players Norma Waggett (24), Jackie Nickolas (15) and Elizabeth Downs at Saugus on Monday. (Item Photo / Angela Owens)

 

SAUGUS - It took the Saugus High volleyball team a little while to get going, but once the Sachems dusted off the cobwebs, it was lights-out for Classical.

Saugus dropped the opening game, 25-12, but won the next three to take a 3-1 win at Saugus in the season opener for both teams. The Sachems won the second game, 25-14, the third game, 25-17, and the final game 25-14.

"We started slow in the first game," Saugus coach Patrick Bemis aid. "We were trying to learn a new offense. It was a little confusing. But the second, third and fourth game we had dynamite serving."

Classical High coach Frank Grealish was pleased with some of the things he saw in his team's first game, but he also saw plenty of areas that need some attention.

"It's a streaky game. When we serve well, we do well. When we're patient and take time, we do well," he said.

The Rams have Salem coming up. Grealish said the Witches have had a program for about seven years. Classical and Saugus are both in their second year.

"We have to kind of step up our game to play at that level," Grealish said. "We have to work on fundamentals."

Senior captain Adrianna Raymond served eight straight points in the opening game to give the Rams a 10-1 lead. The Rams' Brenda Oum had another nice run to help Classical open up an 18-7 lead and junior Bobbie Dee Regan sealed the deal by serving six straight points.

"Bobbie Dee is as good a server as anyone in the league," Grealish said.

Saugus came to life in the second game thanks to some excellent serving by senior Alyssa Furtado. Furtado served 14 points for the Sachems, who missed qualifying for the state tournament by one game last year.

Furtado continued to frustrate the Rams with her serving over the next two games, as did Hannah LoPresti. The Sachems returned most of their starters from last year including Furtado, LoPresti, Gina Vozzella, Jackie Nickolas and Jenna Perry.

Bemis was encouraged by how his team improved over the course of the game, but he'd like to see the passing improve.

"You can't spike the ball if you don't have a pass," he said.

On the plus side, Bemis is confident in the talent he sees in his front line.

"I think we have one of the best front lines in the Northeastern Conference," he said.

The Sachems will play Beverly at home on Wednesday.

 

 

By Joyce Erekson / The Daily Item

The Classical High and English High volleyball teams survived their "rookie" seasons and now both are back for year two with a little more experience and some big numbers.

The Lynn schools added girls volleyball to the slate of fall sports last year and the move was an immediate hit. Both coaches, Classical's Frank Grealish and English's Laurie Wentzell, had more than 50 girls show up for tryouts last week. Both now face the unenviable task of paring down their rosters to a manageable level.

"We had a big turnout," Grealish said. "The only lousy part is making the cuts. There are only six girls on the floor at a time and you don't do that much subbing."

Wentzell isn't surprised by the sport's popularity.

"It's such a great sport. It's good for everybody. I think a lot of girls saw it as an opportunity to play a fall sport," Wentzell said.

Wentzell said volleyball, like tennis, draws a lot of girls who want to start doing a sport. With volleyball, she said, most have never played before.

"It's good in a lot of ways. It gets them involved in a sport. It gives them something to do after school. It lets them be part of a team," she said.

Grealish will be counting on his three captains, Brenda Oum, Adriana Raymond and Kim Eldred, to lead the way, along with returning starter Bobbie Dee Regan.

Wentzell has four senior captains, Brittany Sullivan, Sarah Cowdell, Melody Gasca and Ana Luz Adames. She's also looking for Keri Bryson to help fill the void left by the graduation of Keila Lantigua, who was all over the court for the Bulldogs.

Grealish will get some help from assistant coach Frank DeLuca, who worked with the junior varsity last year.

"He's a great guy. He's great with the kids. He's coached a lot of baseball, but he's really taken to volleyball," Grealish said.

Wentzell's assistant, Betsy Ramos, is also back this season.

"They (her players) seem ready," Wentzell said. "I think we're going to be better prepared for the start of the season. The girls are coming back with a year's experience under them. They seem ready."

Both Grealish and Wentzell are hoping to find a way to keep the players cut playing volleyball, possibly through some sort of intramural program. Grealish said he has 22 incoming freshmen and he doesn't want to see them stop playing.