Joel Sanchez came into Preston this year – his first high school head coaching job – and figured it would take three to five years to build a successful program.
Two months later, the Panthers are playing for a championship.
“I guess I’m lucky,” Sanchez said with a laugh.
Jasmina Dzurlic had 17 kills, 35 digs and four aces and Victoria Sorrell had 17 kills to lead host Preston to a 25-19, 26-24, 25-27, 25-17 win over St. Joseph Hill in the CHSAA Archdiocesan semifinals Friday night in The Bronx. Loredana Calce had 41 assists and seven digs for the Panthers (10-3), who meet nemesis Maria Regina in the championship match Sunday.
“We are such an amazing team and we work so hard to win that I believe we truly deserve a position in the championships,” Calce said. “It’s an incredible feeling knowing that we will be there on Sunday.”
Megan Triano had three blocks, Angela Fragale had 47 digs, Karen Carlson had 18 digs, Danielle Alvarado had five kills and Arlene Figueroa had eight digs.
Preston and Maria Regina split four meetings this season. The Panthers took the second regular-season match and the final of the Cardinal Spellman tournament. The Tigers won the first match and the Bronx/Westchester first-place tiebreaker.
Preston has not won an Archdiocesan title since 2007 when it was guided by former coach Heebong Choi. Sanchez, who played at Lehman College and has college and club coaching experience, is trying to finish off his first year in style.
“I didn’t think the girls were going to buy onto my system that fast and learn it and learn from it,” Sanchez said. “They’re picking things up very well.”
Maria Regina 3, Cardinal Spellman 0: Jessica Ricciardi had 16 digs, Kerri Connelly had five kills and Amanda Butler had five blocks for Spellman (8-5) in a 25-10, 25-17, 25-21 loss in the Archdiocesan semifinals. Maria Regina (10-2) meets Preston in the championship match Sunday. The Tigers have not won the title since 2005.
NYSAISAA
No. 1 Brearley 3, No. 4 Trinity 2: Mary Claire Bartlett had 33 kills and Funmi Adejobi had 53 assists and five blocks to lead Brearley (13-0) to a wild 26-24, 25-21, 27-29, 23-25, 15-12 win in the semifinals. The Beavers will try to win a second straight NYSAISAA title against No. 2 Fieldston in the final 12 p.m. Sunday at Fieldston.
Catherine Egan had 16 kills, seven aces and three blocks and Sophia Wijegoonaratna added three blocks for Brearley.
