After clinching a playoff spot, Bonac’s boys volleyball team fell to West Islip last week in a matchup their coach predicted would be challenging despite the team’s 7-0 winning streak.
While the Bonackers played hard and remain a team to beat in the playoffs, the Lions won over all 3-0. But Josh Brussell, the team’s head coach, is taking the loss in stride, and so are the boys, he said.
Last year, he said, the team would have been broken by a loss, but this year, “they smiled” and left the court knowing they had played hard and could learn from the loss.
“We needed that loss,” he said, adding, “we need to learn.” He said the players have been focusing on their mind-set all season but went into the game against West Islip — a team he called their biggest challenge yet — “maybe a little scared.”
They came out swinging he said, as hard as they could, at everything.
Coach Brussell said the first taste of defeat may sting, but the way the team played and then handled the loss speaks to the character of the group of six seniors and two juniors. “I am so proud of the boys for their first loss,” he said this week.
The Lions knew who to target, and went after Bonac’s top players including Miles Eckardt, a junior outside hitter. “They concentrated on our best,” Coach Brussell said.
The Bonackers next three games could prove to be a tough road, the coach said. This week, they faced Eastport-South Manor, a team that beat West Islip. Westhampton Beach will be in East Hampton Tuesday and the Bonackers will be on the road next Thursday in a matchup against Sayville. All those teams are undefeated, with Westhampton and Eastport-South Manor leading the pack with 8-0-0 records in the conference.
The Bonackers will face West Islip again in the playoffs.
There are five good Division 2 teams, the coach said, and East Hampton is “in that top five.” At this point, with the strength of the team apparent, “anyone can come out on top.”
With the fate of Bonac’s meetup with Eastport-South Manor on Tuesday unknown as of press time, all eyes will be on the boys at the home game against Westhampton Beach Tuesday at 4:15.
