PINE BUSH – Having added a ninth Section IX title last week, blowing a youngish Warwick team off the court 25-8, 25-13, 25-13, the Lady Bushmen (18-0) came down to Orange County Community College to face the Section 1 champions, Arlington (18-3), of Duchess County.

Early on, it was clear that Arlington could play. At 2-1 in the first set, with Pine Bush leading, they staged a rally that went on for minutes, producing some great digs and recoveries.

Arlington stayed close for a while, but then Nicolette Gebhardt hit a streak of great serves, and Pine Bush took seven points in a row and jumped out to 19-13, winning the game 25-16.

Arlington came back in the second set, led from the start, and though Pine Bush drew level at 6-6 and 9-9, Arlington broke out, and took a six point lead 20-14. Arlington looked set to become only the second team this season to take a game from Pine Bush, Cornwall having achieved that feat earlier in the season, while losing to the Lady Bushmen. However, Pine Bush rallied; Megan Maisonet took a pair of service points, while Megan Lesczynski added some kills and another service point and the game was tied 21-21. Arlington fought back, regained the lead, and won the game on a delayed call against Maisonet.

At that point the Arlington girls made a big mistake, apparently. Somebody slipped a little trash talking to the Lady Bushmen.

"The girls basically stepped it up in the third game," said Frank Sobiack, Pine Bush's coach, of the smack talk's effects on the team. "They're not only good volleyball players, but they're tremendous competitors. The way that game ended and this apparent bit of trash talking got them fired up."

The third game stayed close for the first 12 points, when Pine Bush took the lead 7-5. Then they blew it out: serves, kills, huge hits from Gebhardt and Lezcynski, took it to 15-6 and they went on to win 25-13.

The fourth set saw Arlington recover a little, but from 9-9 it soon slipped to 15-11 in Pine Bush's favor, and then 19-13 and ended 25-16.

"Arlington was somewhat of an unknown factor for us. They had filmed us against Warwick, and they were prepared. They play the opposite of most teams; their attack comes from the middle and out of the right side, not the left. That meant our right side defense had to play the major share of defense, and we had a little difficulty in finding the right angles. But this team, once they figure it out, they play flawlessly."

Sobiack had praise for Lezcynski, "She was just incredible today. She puts out so much energy just on her celebrations of a point that you're wondering how she can keep it up all game."

Sobiack also mentioned Lyndsay Fairchild. "Lyndsay has the knack of making big plays at just the right time for us. She did that today and it was a big help."

After the game, Nicolette Gebhardt said, "They were a challenge. They're new to us, outside of club play. We had to make some adjustments."

As for the season, Gebhardt said, "For us seniors this is our last season and that thought has really helped us become a unit."

Frank Sobiack added, "This is big-time volleyball now. There are only eight teams left in the state tournament. Next stop for us, Horseheads, this weekend in Elmira."

Lezcynski had 21 kills, 16 digs, 8 points, 4 aces. Nicolette Gebhardt had 18 kills, 16 points, 9 digs and 2 aces. Megan Maisonet had 50 assists, 9 points, 8 digs and 3 aces. Fairchild had 8 kills and also made 4 blocks.