The veterans on Midwood’s girls’ volleyball squad remember how it felt to narrowly lose a city title two years ago, and how it felt being upset in the semifinals last season. They don’t intend to feel that way again.
They watched rival Fort Hamilton take the division title from them last year and then go on to win its first Class-A crown — and that lit a fire in Midwood’s returning players.
The Hornets avenged that painful loss and moved a step closer to getting back to the top with a 25–15, 26–16, victory over Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn A South girls’ volleyball at James Madison on Oct. 26. It cemented the division crown and put itself in position for a high seed in the upcoming playoffs. Midwood won both regular season meetings against its Bay Ridge rival.
“It was always our goal to beat Fort Hamilton,” said Midwood outside hitter Lauren Peters. “It was good to take it from them this year. Last year they won the finals — and honestly, last year we should have had that.”
The final point of the match between Midwood (8–0) and Fort Hamilton (5–2) highlighted the type of advantage at the net the Hornets’ height and athleticism provide. Peters, who did a little bit of everything all match, delivered a block and then junior middle hitter Julie Greenspan ended things with a booming kill to he middle of the floor.
“It kind of summarized how we played the whole day,” said senior setter Alexandra Auteri.
Both times Midwood pulled away in the middle of the set. The Hornets outscored Fort Hamilton 10–2 in the first set behind the serving of Peters. Auteri and Greenspan also got into a good rhythm together. The spurt, which put the Tigers up 16–9, started after Tigers starter Stephanie Rozek showed good sportsmanship by admitting she tipped a ball when the referee didn’t see it, costing her team a point.
Midwood’s run also showed that Greenspan has settled in at middle hitter. She moved there this season after playing on the outside much of her career. The transition has been a smooth one and Greenspan has enjoyed the added freedom that comes with the new position.
“Playing middle, you have more options to hit,” Greenspan said. “I feel more powerful in the middle.”
That confidence is starting to build in her team as well. Over the weekend Midwood also beat Susan Wagner, which it lost to in last year’s city semifinals. The players see that as a sign the team is starting to bring everything together at the right time.
“The whole starting rotation is getting closer,” Auteri said. “I think that helps with the chemistry. We are starting to be able to trust each other more.”
