Volleyball: Zangerle helps Lourdes top Marlboro, continuing 'positive vibes'
There is a bit of Disney-like sparkle about this team, beyond the narrative of them being a newcomer finding their way and rising against obstacles.
There’s the musical aspect, too.
A few members of the Our Lady of Lourdes volleyball team are inclined to whimsical crooning. The motivational lyrics are made up in the moment and belted before the group, without anyone finding it unusual.
It was Abby Anderson on Tuesday who came up with a ditty that included lines about keeping "your fountain flowing with positive vibes." After all, the junior sang, "you don't wanna be a drain." (Note the wordplay!)
"We're constantly laughing and enjoy being around each other," outside hitter Alex Zangerle said. "That's big for teammates, especially when things get difficult in a match. Someone might get down on themselves, so you need a friend to break the tension and pull you back."
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Things got a little tense for the Warriors as feisty Marlboro refused to relent and threatened to force a fifth set. But Zangerle literally pulled them back, igniting a late rally.
With Lourdes down three in that fourth set, Zangerle recorded three of the next four kills, including a blistering shot that found the back line for the tying point. The run preceded Nicolette Pinelo's block at the net to close a 25-18, 17-25, 25-19, 25-23 win over host Marlboro.
"It was important for us to score there; we needed to stop their momentum," said Vanessa Seymour, who had 36 assists and six kills. "Once Alex got those spikes, we got it going."
What it means
Lourdes has seemingly had it going all season, thriving in its inaugural run in Section 9. With a talented roster of experienced players, who previously cut their teeth against some of the Westchester powers in Section 1, the Warriors find themselves now in discussions of the teams that could challenge for a section title.
Spackenkill has long been a force in Class B and they’re again excellent. But Lourdes is in that mix of contenders that includes Port Jervis, Highland and defending champion New Paltz.
"It's different, not knowing much about our opponents and how they play," said Seymour, whose team went 9-7 last fall. "We're focused on trying to be at our best to (offset) not being used to the opponent. It's about being prepared for anything. You have to be on top of your game and ready for teams with different styles and strategies."
This group has done that, coach Joe Felipe said, crediting them for training year-round and playing at the club level and in summer league, and attending camps. It helps, too, that Felipe had some prior knowledge of this section as his daughter, Gianna, starred for Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Player of the Game
Zangerle had 20 kills, two digs and a block. More than the numbers is the fact several of those kills came when her team needed a spark.
Lourdes swept Marlboro in their meeting last month, but that young squad has steadily improved and was competitive throughout this match. Zangerle was a difference-maker, dominating in key moments, including two emphatic spikes in the fourth game that fired teammates up.
The Warriors faltered late in two recent tournaments, unable to respond after being pushed in closing sets. As the Iron Dukes took a four-point lead in the fourth, Felipe told his team it was “a perfect opportunity” for them to show how they can respond. And, he said, “Alex put the team on her back.”
By the numbers
Marlboro (4-7) ― Madi Callahan had 10 kills and six blocks, Kalista Birkenstock 20 digs and two aces and Jaedyn Lunsford 25 assists and two digs. Victoria Maher added seven kills, seven digs and six aces, Katie Thorne had seven kills and three digs, and Emma Jackson seven digs and four kills.
Lourdes (8-2) ― Madison Tegeler had 10 kills and 17 digs, and Pinelo had three kills and four blocks. Jordan Zamudio added 18 digs and Molly Quirk had six kills.
Up Next
Marlboro will host Red Hook at 5:45 p.m. Thursday. Lourdes hosts Rondout Valley at 5:45 p.m. Thursday.
They said it
"I'm proud of our girls for taking a game and the having close scores in all of them,” Marlboro coach Nicole Kitson said. “We had just one senior on the court. I'm seeing good things and it's only gonna go up from here with the returning players."
"Nobody better to put that last ball away for us than Nicolette," Felipe said of Pinelo, a 5-foot-5 middle blocker whom Seymour called "sassy." "She brings this awesome energy and attitude, and she's a great blocker. She's not all that tall, but she has good timing and jumps like crazy."
Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Volleyball: Zangerle, Seymour and Tegeler lead Lourdes over Marlboro
