Shelter Island Reporter

The Shelter Island High School varsity volleyball team’s county award winners: Coach Cindy Belt, Shelby Willumsen, Mackenzie Needham, Kelsey McGayhey, Claire Read, Haley Willumsen and Stephanie Vecchio. The awards dinner was held at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook on December 1.

The best athletes in Suffolk County volleyball were honored as 750 people gathered at Villa Lombardi's in Holbrook on Tuesday, December 8. Beneath the chandeliers the talk was lively as friends greeted one another and teams reminisced about the past season.

The Suffolk County Volleyball Coaches Association hosts the annual event, and Shelter Island was proud to have six different athletes receive accolades. Seniors Claire Read and Shelby Willumsen, junior Mackenzie Needham, and sophomores Haley Willumsen and Kelsey McGayhey garnered All League honors, while junior Stephanie Vecchio received an All Conference nod.

Haley Willumsen was named the League 8 Rookie of the Year, and Stephanie won League 8 Player of the Year. In recognition of their leadership on the court, both Haley and Shelby Willumsen were named to the County All Tournament Team, with Claire Read receiving the MVP award. The entire team was called up to the stage to be recognized as the 14-0 undefeated League 8 champs.

Although this is primarily a county awards dinner, the team was also recognized for advancing to the state Final Four, and awarded the Class D state sportsmanship award for that tournament.

Along with the athletes, some coaches receive awards. I was pleased and humbled to be honored as the League 8 Coach of the Year. I am well aware that while coaches mold athletes, it is the athletes, in the long run, who win the awards for the coaches. Thanks girls, it has been an honor to work with you.

While one would think that this haul of hardware was more than enough for one night, there was still one remaining.

Most coaches agree with the adage "It's not whether you win or lose it's how you play the game." Of course, there are some who secretly feel that nice guys finish last, or even that "sportsmanship awards are for losers."

I was delighted when the Suffolk County volleyball officials spoke about their award, which emphasized fair play and genuine friendliness within the competitive arena. After each match of the season, officials rated each team on sportsmanship. Of the 58 girls volleyball teams in Suffolk, only one receives this award.

The presenting official prefaced the announcement with, "In proof that winning and sportsmanship are not mutually exclusive, this award goes to a team that went 14-0 (in league play) this season: Shelter Island." The entire team went up to accept the award, our proudest of the night.

The dinner capped a terrific season, and was very tangible proof that these athletes, while in the midst of the most successful season in the history of SI's volleyball program, remained gentlewomen and proud ambassadors of this school and community.