Blue Devil Girls’ Volleyball Sets Playoff Goal

Coming off one of its best seasons ever in the program’s history, the Huntington varsity girls’ volleyball team is looking to keep its momentum going.

Following an off-season and pre-season that saw volleyball intramurals whet the appetite of those interested in the sport, 35 players came out for the first day of practice. It’s believed to be the most interest ever in the Blue Devil girls’ volleyball program.

Huntington will be led by an experienced group of players. Coached by Todd Donaghy and JV coach Lauren Blackburn, the Blue Devils might surprise some Suffolk teams who believed the loss to graduation of Kate Barba and Neurdia Osias incapacitated the program.

Last year’s team won 12 matches, the most in 27 years. The Blue Devils compiled a 12-7 overall mark.

Huntington will head into battle behind Lauren Donaghy, who was named All-Classification in 2023. The senior is coming back after a record setting junior campaign with 522 assists, a single season school record. Donaghy is just 260 assists away from breaking the school record set by Shannon Kehoe.

All-League Brianna Borenstein is also back after recording 98 kills as a junior before sustaining a midseason ankle injury. “We’re expecting Brianna to double the number of kills she recorded last year,” Coach Donaghy said. “We lost All-State outside hitter Kate Barba (350 kills in 2023), but between Brianna and Emily Barba, who is moving from starting libero to our second outside, I think we’ll be able to get Kate’s production out of the two of them.”

Bella Morris is another integral member of the lineup. “For the better part of last season she was our starting OPP (opposite side hitter), but Bella is shifting to the middle this season,” Coach Donaghy said. “Bella’s play has improved significantly in each of her first three seasons. I’m expecting Bella to have a great year out of the middle.”

Huntington is also expecting “big things” out of Madelyn Falk, Jocelyn Thorbourne, Dakota Respass and Kymora Dorvilus. “They are all strong athletes who have grown into very good volleyball players in a short period of time,” Coach Donaghy said.

Huntington opens the season on Friday. The Blue Devils will host always tough West Islip with the JV playing at 5 p.m. and the varsity set for 6:30 p.m.

“After making the playoffs last season, we’re kind of in a re-tooling phase, not necessarily a rebuilding one,” Coach Donaghy said. “Playoffs are the goal this season, but we probably need to not only win the matches we’re supposed to win, but beat a team or two that we’re not necessarily favored to win.”