Massena Girls Volleyball Team Ends Season Undefeated

They did it.

The Massena Central varsity girls volleyball team wrapped up their second straight undefeated season, closing out with a win against Salmon River. They have not lost a regular season game since 2014.

They will open playoffs Tuesday, Nov. 1 on their home court at 7 p.m.

Prior to kicking off their regular season closer, the team recognized its two graduating members, Tianna Back and Tatum LaFrance.

Back is the daughter of Abraham and Mel Back. The starting power hitter has been on the team for three years and plans to attend college after graduation.

LaFrance is the daughter of Bill and Hillary LaFrance. She plans to pursue an anthropology degree after high school.

After taking to the court, Massena swept Salmon 3-0 with scores of 25-10, 25-8 and 25-18.

LaFrance in her final regular season game served up 10 points, also logging five aces, three kills and nine assists.

Back served 12 points, six of which were aces, and also fashioned six kills.

Mckenzee Lazore and Gabby Durant each had nine service points and four kills.

"Jenna Tarbell and Teres Jacobs had an outstanding defensive game," Coach Margaret Farrell said.

Tarbell also added three points and Jacobs four service points.

Alyssa Eubank (five kills) and Brittany Condon each had seven service points.

Two nights earlier, the team pulled off a nailbiter win on the road against Chateaugay, 3-2. The scores were 25-22, 25-23, 13-25, 17-25 and 25-21.

Back served 16 points and Tarbell 12 points.

Lazore had 10 service points with 11 assists.

LaFrance (10 assists) and Condon each served seven points with three kills.

Eubank (four blocks) and Durant (three blocks) each contributed eight kills.

Prior to closing their regular season, junior team members Mckenzee Lazore and Jenna Tarbell, along with seniors Back and LaFrance and Coach Farrell sat down with Indian Time to look back at their successful two-year run.

They all say strong bonds formed on and off the court helped them unify as a thusfar unstoppable force, despite some major role changes among the players.

Lazore said they wouldn't have won as many matches without "having leaders of the team taking action."

"I feel me and Tianna make people comfortable," LaFrance said. "We're just a big family."

"For real," Back replied.

The two are team captains.

Farrell, who many have probably seen advising the team's game plan from the sidelines, said the girls have been easy to coach.

"What I see the most is ... I say 'I expect this to be your job.' It has been every single person doing their job excellently," the coach said. "Everyone has a role to fill and they're willing to fill that role on and off the court."

She said this year brought about a shuffle of roles for the players.

Lazore had to assume a new role following setter Cayla Hinkely's injury.

"Huge kudos to Mckenzee," the coach said.

She said Back also took a new approach to the game this year.

"Tianna came from last where she was mainly defense and transitioned to a power hitter," according to Farrell.

She said Tarbell became the new "goalkeeper," mainly performing as a defensive stalwart.

"Jenna is really our defensive specialist," Farrell said.

She said in addition to the local community, other Massena Central sports teams have turned out to support the volleyball team this year.

"I've been over-the-top impressed with the support from the community," Farrell said. "I've been impressed with other (Massena) athletic teams coming out to support us."

She credits the Akwesasne players with putting in the extra time to get from the community to school, where the distance can put them at a disadvantage compared to players who live in town.

"When we think about going from the Akwesasne, driving a long way to practice and games ... it takes a lot of dedication and perseverance," the coach said.