The J. Taylor Middle School girls’ volleyball team has captured the imagination of students. When tryouts were announced earlier this month, 124 girls turned out.
Veteran head coach Carrie Postel had the unenviable task of trying to determine who should make the final roster. It wasn’t easy. Finley has some great volleyball players who are energetic and give their best effort on the court.
A 24 player squad was selected. The team includes seventh graders Emily Barba, Alexandra Boeckmann, LaKhiasja Casey, Jordyn Gross, Madyn Kalb, Manpreet Kaur, Grace Kline, Elliot Manu, Logan Miller, Caroline Mitek, Dakota Respass, Jocelyn Thorbourne and Andreana Vlahos; and eighth graders Ashley Alexis, Keysy Diaz Campos, Kymora Dorvilus, Chelsea Gordon, Ruby Hoffman, Naomi Lyons, Mia Miller, Cecilena Monge Moreira, Samantha Muller, Isabella Palacios and Riley Uvena.
The players have been practicing after school with Postel, learning all the ins and outs of volleyball along with strategy and playing together as a unit. Since there was no middle school season last year, it’s a learning experience for everyone.
Finley will play a schedule of 10 matches evenly split between home and away contests. The team will play host to Kings Park (December 3 at 4:30 p.m.), Smithtown Accompsett-Blue (December 8 at 4:30 p.m.), Lindenhurst-Green (January 6 at 4:45 p.m.), Smithtown Great Hollow-Red (January 10 at 4:30 p.m.) and Elwood (January 14 at 5 p.m.)
There are away matches at Smithtown Nesaquake-Red (December 6 at 5 p.m.), Candlewood-Red (December 13 at 5 p.m.), West Hollow-Red (December 21 at 5 p.m.), Commack-Gold (January 4 at 5 p.m.) and North Babylon Robert Moses-Blue (January 7 at 5 p.m.).
“We have a great group of girls on the team this year,” Postel said. “All of us are looking forward to our matches.”