(Courtesy of Ma’ayanot Sports) The JV Volleyball Championships was a clash of titans as the top two teams in the Western Conference, Frisch and Ma’ayanot (both 7-1) battled for the championship. The two teams steamrolled their opposition on the way to the finals, failing to drop a single set in the postseason leading up to the match.
Frisch dominated 2-0, 2-0 against HAFTR and defending champions SAR respectively, while Ma’ayanot defeated Flatbush 2-0 before avenging their only regular season loss with a 2-0 win over Ramaz.
Fans packed TABC to watch the rivals square off and were shocked to see Frisch win handily, 21-15. Ma’ayanot had easily won their head-to-head regular season tilt, 21-12, 21 -12, but seemed to come out flat in the first set, succumbing to their nerves and looking nothing like the team that trounced the competition throughout the Fall.
Ma’ayanot rallied in the second set as Gila Rosman (‘27) scored seven straight serves to begin the set as Ma’ayanot jumped out to an early 8-0 lead. After a Frisch service error and two aces from Captain Ahava Teitelman (‘27), Ma’ayanot had what appeared to be a comfortable 11-1 lead. Appearances can be deceiving however as Frisch caught fire, storming back to trim the lead to 11-9. Ma’ayanot ultimately held on to win the set and force a decisive Set 3.
Ma’ayanot, who had relied on its stellar serving all season, edged out Frisch in the decisive third set thanks to stellar play at the net Rosman and freshman setter Rachel Shapiro (‘28) orchestrated a balanced offensive attack with newcomers Avigayil Alter (‘27) and Shayna Spinowitz (‘28) tallying 5 and 7 kills respectively. Co-captain Kaylee Vogel (‘27) played stellar defensive volleyball, setting up most of the kill opportunities and made multiple lunging saves that could have spelled the difference in the match.
Ma’ayanot embodied “team volleyball” as each player contributed significantly to the outcome and helped withstand an offensive barrage from Frisch, paced by Freshman hitter Rachel Frank (28). An energetic Ma’ayanot bench and the Ma’ayanot supporters in attendance drowned out the Frisch crowd as the tide began to turn in the third set. Ma’ayanot won the third and decisive set 21-13, putting a capstone on a stellar season, and securing Ma’ayanot’s first JV banner since ‘14-’15.
