Jayhawks Volleyball Give Their All

By Tony Pan

It was matchday for the Jayhawks, clad in blue and gold jerseys. The 2nd seed Jericho boys varsity volleyball team faced off against the 5th seed Calhoun for the Nassau County Division II Championships on November 8th at SUNY Old Westbury. In both appearances between the two teams during the regular season, the Jayhawks won by sweeps in straight sets.

Arriving for warmups more than an hour before the game, the players were locked in and ready to give it their all. Senior Jack Komson said, “We felt very confident walking in together, but we were all nervous deep down.”

Jericho supporters trickled in and filled up the bleachers quickly as game time approached. Friends, families, and even faculty members greeted players and wished all of them the best of luck in the high-stakes game that was about to unfold.

The game began at a rather slow pace for both sides, with both teams searching for rhythm and momentum. Unfortunately, Calhoun was able to snatch the first two sets of the game; putting them just one set away from the title and a sweep. However, the game was far from over. The Jayhawks began a comeback in the third set. The boys decided their season couldn’t end in a straight set sweep. “After this long season, we weren’t ready to go out yet, especially not without a fight,” said senior Sam Taubes.

What followed in the next two sets was a masterclass performance displaying a combination of grit, teamwork, and perseverance from Jericho as they proceeded to deliver in the next two sets winning them 25-23, and 25-19, respectively.

With both teams tied at 2-2, everything came down to the 5th set. The energy flowing through the Jericho crowd was at its peak as both sides braced for a championship-deciding final set. “The crowd was insane. It felt surreal having them behind us as they got louder throughout the game,” said senior Jack Komson.

The two sides of the bleachers exchanged many chants, even copying each other at times. As the game progressed, the Jericho crowd only grew and grew in both size and support for their team.

Unfortunately, after a solid start in the fifth and final set, Calhoun outscored Jericho 18-16. The intense match ended in a 3-2 result. “All odds were favoring us that game, and it was upsetting to see the end result, but the journey was worth every second,” said senior Sam Taubes.

The crowd cheered on the players as the match came to an emotional end. Many fans descended from the bleachers to comfort Jayhawk players. This was the last game for the seniors, and tears were shed as the boys consoled each other.