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By Joseph Staszewski
Brooklyn Daily
The time is right for the Midwood girl’s volleyball team to break through to the Public School Athletic League Class A final.
The Hornets earned the second seed in the playoffs that start this week — its highest position since 2001. Undefeated in league play for the second straight season, the team is now playing its best volleyball of the year at just the right time.
Midwood recently avenged an early season loss to No. 3 Susan Wagner, the defending city champions, at the Fort Hamilton tournament. Midwood also won a set over top-seeded Benjamin Cardozo.
“I feel like we are definitely peaking,” Hornets coach Thomasini Lenzi said. “We have tremendous hitters at that net. We have exceptional blocking. We have a great defense in the back row. We are just ready.”
Her team has made steady progress toward becoming one of the truly elite programs in the Public School Athletic League after years of playoff struggles. The Hornets ended a seven-year semifinals drought in 2009 and have been there four of the last five years without being able to reach the final. Lenzi feels no year is better than this one to make it happen after losing just three seniors.
“It would be great for the girls,” she said. “The boys have put some city championship banners up and the girls have not. We have some really close semifinal games, but we just couldn’t get over that hump.”
If they do so it will be without a stand-out superstar. Lanzi preaches balance and her deep roster personifies it. The Hornets have plenty of leaders starting with setter Elizabe Genis. She is a four-year varsity player along with senior outside hitter Alexandra Gordon. Fellow hitter Aleksandra Rysina, who has been on the varsity squad for two seasons, is another key component.
“I feel like our team is really dynamic,” Gordon said. “Every player on the court can play each position.”
Senior Emily Whelehan and junior Michela Appel, sister of former Hornets star Shannon Appel, have begun to come into their own. Celine Walker, a 6-foot-2 junior, has developed into an excellent blocker. Julie Greenspan is a superb server and Jessica Chen is excelling at the libero position.
Appel’s emergence as the season’s gone has helped take pressure off the senior hitters, according to Gordon. It makes them even harder to defend.
“When she gets set, we know the ball is going to be put away,” Gordon said.
The Hornets have all the tools to make a run at a city title. Midwood reached the final in several of the city’s top tournaments this season. Lenzi believes this squad is more mature and emotionally ready than last season.
“We are just looking to play a good game,” Lenzi said. “If that works out we are in good shape.”