April 30, 2011
Bees stay cool under pressure
Bayonne's Hojairy Peralta (43) and Khaled Abdelaal (6) go up for the block.
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By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
HARRISON – Konrad Budny knows that emotions have been a critical factor in the way he and his Bayonne teammates have played; even admitting that it has sometimes been a downfall for them.
In as emotionally charged situation as the Bees have faced all season, they showed the composure and strength needed to be one of North Jersey’s top teams.
Despite failing to convert on five match-point opportunities, Bayonne would not falter and eventually put away Harrison with a 25-14, 32-30 victory yesterday.
“I really feel like our team thrives a lot on our emotions,” said Budny, who had 15 assists, 10 service points and three blocks. “That’s why we have our ups and our downs (sometimes). I feel like when we’re playing at our (peak) we’re really playing with our heart and we’re into the game. That’s when we’re putting teams away.”
That strength was certainly tested for both sides during a marathon second game which featured five lead changes. On 16 different occasions the game was tied.
After trailing for most of the second game, Bayonne (11-4) faced game point on two separate occasions only to recover and tie it up. Elijah Eligate knotted it up at 25-all with a kill and a Blue Tide (11-4) fault gave the Bees match point.
Getting that final point would prove to be quite the challenge for Bayonne. Harrison’s Facundo Barreto kept the match alive with a kill to make it 26-26 starting a stretch where the two teams alternated the next 10 points. Each time the Bees were on the verge of ending the game and match, only to see the Blue Tide stave off defeat and even the score once again.
“When it’s a tight game like that we have to make sure we’re the stronger team emotionally and physically; both on the court and off,” said Budny.
“It’s just a matter of staying focused,” Bayonne head coach Pat Longo said. “Luckily each time we did win the point (when it was tied), but we just couldn’t finish it. It was an exciting game and I think it was good for both teams. We just have to keep playing and keep focused because anything can happen in this game.”
Kills from Rahim Douelfakar kept Harrison alive at 27- and 28-all and Chris Osiecki tied it at 30-30 with a kill of his own. Bayonne would take the lead for good with Hojairy Peralta’s kill to make it 31-30.
The Bees would finally cash in on the sixth match point opportunity as a long rally ended with a Harrison smash into the net to finish the game.
“It was intense,” said Damian Bargielski, who finished with three blocks and two kills in the victory. “It was pretty hard, but we stuck through it, worked hard and did what we had to do.”
“We just don’t finish sometimes,” said Harrison head coach Nick Landy, lamenting the loss of early 13-8 and 20-17 leads in that second game. “It’s not that last play that kills you, but the ones before where you’re not hitting the ball over (hard) and giving them chances. It’s like a chain reaction.”
Kris Kucza had 10 service points, six kills and two blocks for Bayonne in the win. Egalite added seven service points, five kills and two blocks. Peralta had 15 service points and libero Jeric Pimental chipped in with six digs.
Douelfakar had eight kills to lead a balanced Blue Tide attack as Osiecki added seven kills and Barretto four. Victor Narvaez had 23 assists and eight digs while Lucas Nogueira and Osiecki added seven and six digs respectively.
Harrison's Chris Osiecki had seven kills and six digs in defeat.
1st |
2nd |
||
| Bayonne Bees (11-4) | 25 |
32 |
|
| Harrison Blue Tide (11-4) | 14 |
30 |
|