Finley Coach Salutes Volleyball Team

The J. Taylor Finley Middle School girls’ volleyball program is on the upswing. Both the “blue” and “white” teams were much more competitive this winter than either has been for many years.

Finley-White consisted of 21 players coached by Huntington High School physical education teacher Lauren Blackburn, who also coaches the Blue Devil JV team in the fall.

The roster included seventh graders Zoe Chiclacos, Leah Edwards, Paige Falk, Norah Golden, Keira Lynch, Emma Martin, Gianna Skrobela, Abigail Uvena and Brianna Zavala Reyes; and eighth graders Mea Andrea, Hanna Boyle, Claire Dello-Iacono, Katherine Duke, Violetta Fox, Cassidy Harris, Gabriella Jones, Mackenzie McKay, Taylor Peters, Campbell Proctor, Karina Rodriguez and Amy Velasquez Mancia.

“All the girls on this team contributed at some point during the season and all showed tremendous improvement,” Blackburn said.

Finley beat Commack’s “black” and “gold” teams, which Blackburn called the Blue Devils’ “greatest accomplishment.”

“Commack has a very good program so to be able to go in and beat them both was huge,” Blackburn said. “I am so proud of the way the girls boosted each other up and came together for those wins.”

Blackburn has been striving to develop volleyball skills among the seventh and eighth graders and generate interest in the JV and varsity programs.

“This was one of the most improved teams that I have ever coached,” Blackburn said. “All of the girls came to practice each day ready to work. They were able to be pushed and were practicing more advanced skills. They also had amazing attitudes and positivity, which made coaching them all so much fun.”

Blackburn hopes that her seventh graders return next winter as many eighth graders as possible move on to the high school program next fall.