The Syosset boys volleyball team is one resilient bunch. However, resiliency does not always guarantee victory. The Braves found this out the hard way when they were swept by Long Beach Friday afternoon. The loss eliminated the Braves from the playoffs and officially ended their season at 9-9.
Game three epitomized a refuse-to-quit attitude that has been evident time and time again for the Braves. Knowing that their season rested on winning the third game, Syosset put together its most competitive effort of the afternoon.
The decisive game saw 10 ties, a significant change from the previous two games. Long Beach held a 6-4 advantage in break points. This proved to be the difference in the 25-19 loss. But after looking overmatched early in the afternoon, close second and third game were a bit of a surprise.
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Following a sound 25-16 loss in game one, Syosset needed to regroup. The Braves fell behind early, failing to record consecutive points until Long Beach had 18 points on the board.
Syosset rallied to score six of the final eight points in the opener, setting the tone for a much more competitive finish.
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Long Beach got out to an early lead again in game two. After trailing 8-3, Syosset clawed back and found themselves down by only five late in the game. A key block at the net by Henry Klosowski brought the Braves within two. The 6-foot-4 enforcer slammed down another Long Beach shot two points later to keep the deficit at two.
Long Beach led 24-20 when Andrew Willig served two consecutive points. Willig and Klosowski were both effective down the stretch, enough to carry their team in the most desperate of times. But with no room for error, Syosset fell 25-22 in the second game.
