Bay Shore Makes History with First Long Island Championship

The Bay Shore girls volleyball team has reached the top of Suffolk County, and the celebration was fitting for a group that made history.

The Marauders captured the first Suffolk County championship in program history before adding another milestone with a victory over Massapequa to claim their first Long Island Class AAA title. After the historic win, the team received a special escort back to the school from the Bay Shore Fire Department.

Bay Shore capped its championship run with a 3-1 victory over Massapequa on Nov. 11 at Nassau Community College, improving to a perfect 19-0. The Marauders will now turn their attention to the state regional final, where they will face Arlington of Section I at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at John Jay Cross River High School.

The championship match was anything but easy. Massapequa grabbed an 18-12 lead in the opening set, but Bay Shore responded with an 8-2 run to even the score. Shannon Smith delivered three kills during the rally, and Jenna Grant came through with a block to save a set point before Smith put the set away with a kill.

Bay Shore took the first two sets, 28-26 and 25-21, before Massapequa fought back to win the third, 29-27. The Marauders answered in the fourth, pulling away for a 25-21 victory to secure the title. Haven Mills delivered the match-winning kill.

Smith finished with 17 kills, 10 digs and three aces. Mills also recorded 17 kills, along with eight digs, three blocks and two aces. Grant added seven kills and four blocks, Kelsie Kennedy contributed 27 digs, and Kerrin Butler dished out 43 assists.

Head coach Jamie Soldinger, who was named Suffolk Coach of the Year, and JV coach Ashley Paredes helped guide a team featuring key contributors Smith, Mills, Kennedy and Grant.

The Marauders also earned victories over Ward Melville, 3-1, on Nov. 4, and Connetquot, 3-2, on Oct. 30, on their way to an undefeated season.