BY BEN STRACK
It wasn’t the playoffs. It wasn’t even a game. But from Massapequa High School’s smaller, tucked-away gym, battle cries echoed the locker-la
den corridors for nearly two hours as two defending champions clashed.
There were no referees making questionable calls, nor parents shuffling in from their 9-to-5s. Rather, the Chiefs scrimmaged non-league opponent St. Anthony’s—last year’s CHSAA champion—in a cramped gym sans fans, prepping for a playoff run that could culminate in the program’s 16th consecutive county title.
Despite finishing the season 15-0 in conference play, CarolAnn Habeeb-Kiel, who has coached for 28 years, said her team needed to make some adjustments before the postseason.
“I wanted to work on a different lineup, I’m switching things up because we haven’t gelled yet,” said Habeeb-Kiel. “We haven’t hit our peak yet, so today was kind of a turning point for us.”
Massapequa swept Syosset in its final match on Oct. 26, and because they earned a first round bye, don’t play until Nov. 6. Wednesday’s rendezvous with the Friars will be followed by scrimmages with Kings Park and John Glenn High School, meant to keep the girls sharp in the week-and-a-half lull.
More than that though, Habeeb-Kiel looks to her scrimmage opponents’ coaches, many of whom are her friends, for further feedback.
“We give each other advice back and forth because I always like an outside perspective,” she said. “Sometimes you need to as a coach, p
ull yourself away from your own team and I’m always open for other ideas.”
Habeeb-Kiel has led the program to 202 consecutive conference wins. Pair that with 15 straight county championships and expectations are always high.
“Being able to be a part of a team like this that has all those titles is a little pressuring,” said senior outside hitter Kole Pollock. “But once you start being able to connect with these girls and really learn how each other plays, you build a lot of confidence in each other and the nerves kind of just wash away.”
The nerves seemed at a low point during Wednesday’s unofficial match as the fast-paced play was matched with communication and energy. Setter Jamie Smith was in the middle of it all, realizing what needs to improve before the postseason commences.
“I thought our defensive coverage was great, like off the blocks and stuff,” the junior said. “Our blocking improved toward the end of the scrimmage but I just think we have to clean up a couple of our connections as far as setters and hitters and blockers with their timing.”
Aside from the on-court adjustments, Massapequa’s winning ways rely on a mental shift into the playoffs, understanding the difference in intensity for the next few weeks ad changing gears in response to that realization.
“Postseason is not the same as regular season and I’ve been saying that for the last two weeks,” Habeeb-Kiel said. “I think that’s where I’m trying to teach them. It’s a vibe, it’s got to change. That’s something that you kind of have to get them ready for and try to teach them but either they have it or they don’t have it.”
The Chiefs and their postseason foes will find out if they have it Nov. 6. Massapequa enters as the clear favorite, but don’t tell Habeeb-Kiel that.
“I always coach like I’m the underdog,” she said. “People think I’m crazy because I haven’t been the underdog for 15 years but that’s my philosophy. There’s no room for complacency, there’s no room to get comfortable, there’s no room for grass to grow. Not in this gym.”
