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Two 6-footers smash Central Catholic back to title game

Tuesday, November, 17 By Christopher Smith
Staff writer

MELROSE — The Central Catholic bench players stood up withsmiles covering all their faces and paraded over to the right side of the benchto watch match point, eagerly waiting to charge the court and celebrate theirreturn to the state title game.

Central had a little trouble putting the finishing touch onits semifinal though. Quincy won four straight points before Raiders 6-foot-2hitter Kendall Desrosiers finally ended it in style by smashing a very hard kill over the net.

It was then time to celebrate as the bench players sprintedonto the court and embraced Desrosiers and the rest of their teammates near thenet.

“Last year we had the chance to do it but this year we justknow it’s our time,” Desrosiers said. “We want to make things happen.”

The final point summed up the game.

Central’s two tallest hitters —Desrosiers and 6-foot-3 KatieZenevitch — took control of the match as they combined for 15 kills to leadCentral to a 25-20, 25-15, 25-20 sweep over Quincy at Melrose High School.

Central advanced to play New Bedford in the Division 1 statechampionship game at 6 p.m. Saturday at Algonquin Regional High School inNorthborough.

Central lost 3-0 to Medfield in the Division 2 statechampion game last year. 

Maybe Desrosiers’ biggest kill came in game No. 1 whenQuincy chipped away at a nine-point deficit by winning six straight points tobring the score to 15-12. Desrosiers, however, rifled a kill over the left sideof the net that the Quincy had no chance to return.

“We wanted the momentum back and that was important for usto continue on and keep the lead in that game,” Desrosiers said.

Meanwhile, Zenevitch was just as strong near the net. Shesaid she was extra pumped. 

“I knew I could get my hit off against these girls,”Zenevitch said.

Zenevitch, one of four senior captains, starts whileDesrosiers comes off the bench.

Both rotate out for defensive subs whenever their turn comesto play the backrow. 

“Kendall’s strength for us is her ability to put the ball onthe floor and to terminate the play,” Central coach Gannon Paris said. “She is— at point of contact — above mostly everyone who is blocking her. So if we canbe disciplined as to where we place the ball, then she’s going to be able totake it from there.

Paris added that Zenevitch — because of her height — alwayshas the chance to dominate when she receives strong sets.

“(Zenevitch) is playing really well,” Paris added. “Samething as Kendall. ... She’s going to have an advantage to end the point in ourfavor.”

Central (22-0) returns five starters and nine lettermen fromlast year’s Division 2 runner-up team that also went into the championship gamewith an undefeated record. 

“I think last year was a learning experience for us,”Desrosiers said. “Last year we were a great team. This year, I think we havejust as much talent and we just want it so much more. We have so many seniorson the team that want it. We want to do it for them.”

Central has lost only seven games this season in its 22matches. It has earned sweeps in 15-of-22 matches.

We’ll go in with the same attitude as last year but I hopethe outcome is different,” Zenevitch said. “We’ll practice the next few daysand just work our butts off.”