Smithtown - Senior Andrew MacNiven and the East Hampton boys volleyball team had just suffered a heartbreaking loss. They'd fought back from two games to one down, forcing a fifth. And now they were going blow for blow with one of Suffolk County's elite squads – Smithtown West. Intimidating -- possibly since they had never beaten them.

So despite falling 25-14, 18-25, 26-24, 20-25, 25-20, the Bonackers co-captain left the court with a smile. His boys had gone to battle.

"I'm not even mad that we lost," MacNiven said. "I think it's the best we've played all year, no doubt. Our passing was good, our hitting was ridiculous, our serves were good – I think we just played really well all-around."

East Hampton's finest effort came right when it should – at the end of the season, with the playoffs looming. A signature win would have given the Bonackers (8-6) a tremendous confidence boost for the stretch run, but Head Coach Dan Weaver believes his team is where it should be.

"I think the guys are feeling it," Weaver said. "Lindenhurst, Sachem North, Smithtown West – we played well against all of them. It would have been great to get the win, but at the same time, maybe it'll make them hungrier."

Power Surge
Down 2-1 in the Bulls' gym, East Hampton was in a real tough spot. But as it has all season, they rode their two big hitters – MacNiven and junior Hayden Ward – in the fourth game. The tandem combined for 11 kills in the game, opening up a margin as large as eight points on their way to the 25-20 equalizer.

Smithtown West elevated its game in the deciding game, though, riding its own hitter on the left front, junior Michael McKenna, to the victory. In the fifth, McKenna's kills accounted for five of the Bulls' first six points, 12 for the game, all contributing to a career-high 35 kills for the match.

"That's what we have in the County this year – every team has one or two terminators that put the ball away consistently," Weaver said. "You have to try to do what you can to keep them from getting their kills. He's a great hitter. We're not going to stop him every time he goes up; we just have to make our plays when we get the opportunities."

At the beginning, it didn't look like the Bonackers belonged on the same court as the Bulls. Smithtown West (10-3) jumped out to an 18-3 advantage courtesy in part to 10 East Hampton errors. The Bonackers did get it going, but not enough to threaten the hosts. It's a problem that has plagued East Hampton all season.

"We came off the bus really lackadaisical," Ward admitted. "We have to come out firing. If we can do that, we're one of the best teams."

The Big Bopper
In the second game, Ward woke up in a big way, energizing his teammates with several booming balls. The junior had bookend kills in the game – a bomb for the first point and another to end it. Eight of his team-high 24 kills came in, evening the match. MacNiven was right behind him with 17 kills and eight blocks.

Smithtown West seized the momentum early in the third, but it needed a late push to take the game. The Bulls snatched a 17-11 lead behind McKenna and middle hitter Chris Sidwam, and that's when East Hampton made its move. Setter Jon Jamet distributed the ball to all his weapons, and soon the score was tied at 20. The Bonackers went ahead 23-21 and served for the game at 24-23, but West ran off the final three points to take the game 26-24.

"Their defense is very good," Ward said. "They dig a lot of balls that are usually kills. Against a team like that, you just have to keep fighting."

East Hampton has a little more work to do to reach the playoffs. Weaver figures his troops need a victory either tomorrow at Westhampton or at Friday's Senior Day against Hauppauge to give the Bonackers the necessary power points to reach the post-season, at which time he expects East Hampton will be a player just like everyone else.

"The 12 seed can beat the 1 seed in the playoffs this year," Weaver said. "There are so many good teams right now in the county, everybody can play with everybody. I think we can make a run in the playoffs, regardless of where we're seeded."