Volleyball

Raiders building on last year’s success

By Mike Zummo
Posted 9/4/24

The James I. O’Neill Raiders ran rampant through the 2023 volleyball regular season last year but were tripped up in the Section 9 Class B playoffs.

After posting a 17-1 record and winning …

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Volleyball

Raiders building on last year’s success

Posted

The James I. O’Neill Raiders ran rampant through the 2023 volleyball regular season last year but were tripped up in the Section 9 Class B playoffs.

After posting a 17-1 record and winning the Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 4 championship in the regular season during coach Kelley-Anne Lonergan’s first season at the helm, the Raiders entered the Section 9 tournament to face a pair of Mid-Hudson Athletic League teams.

They easily dispatched the Rondout Valley Ganders in the quarterfinals, but were beaten, 3-1, by the third-seeded Red Hook Raiders, who went on to win the championship.

This year, the Raiders will remain in Division 4 and will need to sweep Fallsburg to repeat as champion, but two divisional games leave plenty of time for the Raiders to seek out some non-league games.

The Raiders, in a hope to build up their offense and be more competitive against stronger teams, will attend the Hendrick Hudson and Walter Panas tournaments, both out of Section 1.

They will also face large-school powers Cornwall, who has won 19 straight Section 9 championships twice, and will face large school power Monroe-Woodbury as well to prepare for the sectional tournament.

“We have a tough schedule this year and are looking to build up our offense and compete against these teams,” Lonergan said.
The Raiders have lost defensive specialist Charlotte Black and Lauren Farrier, right side player Riley Van Pelt, middle blocker Timmeran Leary and outside hitter Sammie Starling.

They’ll return outside hitter Maddie Thompson, setter Sophie Lindberg, outside/right side hitter Abbey Richardson and right-side hitter Madeline Richardson. Newcomers include middle blocker Emma Pearson, and outside/right side hitter Daphne Bentley.

The Raiders will open their season this week with a home match against Tuxedo on Wednesday. They will visit the Class AA Valley Central Vikings on Friday before heading to the Hendrick Hudson Tournament on Saturday morning.

“This team has a lot of heart and great leadership,” Lonergan said. “I am really looking forward to this season.”