WEST NYACK – As a Chicago Cubs fan can surely tell you now, all sports droughts seem bound to eventually come to an end. Unfortunately for the Suffern boys volleyball team, the state regional tournament remained an unbroken barrier following a season-ending loss to Shenendehowa on Thursday.

Shenendehowa defeats Suffern during boys volleyball’s regional match at Clarkstown South High School in West Nyack on November 10, 2016.

Suffern was handily swept in its only loss of the season, 25-15, 25-14, 25-16, in the state regional semifinals at Clarkstown South High School. The Mounties (19-1), who have won eight of the nine Section 1 titles since a boys volleyball league was formed in 2008, have never won a state tournament match.

Suffern faced Shenendehowa earlier in the year during a tournament matchup, losing 25-18, 25-18. First-year head coach Kendrick Madronero said Shenendehowa played a much cleaner match Thursday.

“In the tournament, (Shenendehowa) missed a bunch of serves — I was counting on that,” said Madronero, the Mounties’ former junior varsity coach. “I was telling my guys: ‘A pass, a set, and a kill. Minimize mistakes and we have an opportunity.’ When they get their serves in, it’s tough to get a pass.”

The Mounties were also without junior hitter Nick Cimillo during the tournament match. Cimillo was optimistic heading into Thursday, based on the scouting report his teammates relayed to him.

Shenendehowa defeats Suffern during boys volleyball’s regional match at Clarkstown South High School in West Nyack on November 10, 2016.

“They told me that they competed with them,” he said. “I came here thinking, ‘Maybe we could win a couple of games and even beat them.’ That’s what I thought.”

Cimillo’s sisters, Sam and Taylor, were among the hundreds of fans that filled the gymnasium bleachers in support of the Mounties. Taylor, a member of the 2014 state championship girls volleyball team, held a sign throughout the match with her younger brother’s name.

Suffern struggled to keep up with the Shenendehowa’s quick style of play on defense and had difficulty passing on offense. Madronero said “it’s tough” for Section 1 teams to prepare for the state tournament with so few schools offering boys volleyball as a sport.

“We don’t have many teams, but hopefully as the years go by, all teams in Section 1 continue to strive to be like these Section 2 guys that keep coming down and beating us up in this regional,” Madronero said. “But hats off to (Shenendehowa). They are very talented, strong, athletic — and our guys played hard, we did what we could, but at the end of the day we came on the wrong side.”

Suffern coach Kendrick Madronero watches his team during boys volleyball’s regional match against Shenendehowa at Clarkstown South High School in West Nyack on November 10, 2016.

Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud

LINCOLNDALE – Shortly after Section 1 had formed its playoff brackets and its path to a title became clear, the Somers football team devised a motivational tool.

“Our little joke was that this was a revenge tour,” junior captain Nick Gargiulo said during practice this week. “We had Lourdes, which knocked us out last year. We had Brewster, which beat us bad last year. And we had Yorktown, which beat us earlier this season.”

The tour rolls on for the Tuskers, whose latest foray into the state tournament will come against another old adversary. In fact, they will have a two-fold quest on Saturday: Beat Cornwall, the team it lost to in this very game in 2012 and 2013, and accomplish a program first.

SCOUTING REPORTS: The lowdown on state playoff and CHSFL semifinal games

CLASS B REGIONAL: Even switching sports can’t slow Declan McDermott down

CLASS A CHAMPIONSHIP: Somers turns tables on Yorktown in championship rematch

THOMSON: Somers’ football formula yielding big numbers

“There’s a lot riding on this game,” said senior captain Tim Sweeney, whose team will meet the Section 9 champ at 12:30 Saturday at Mahopac High School. “We’re really trying to make history. We’ve never made it out of the regional round here at Somers. The whole concept of revenge has really motivated us through the playoffs.”

In this case, the players’ vengeance is fueled more by their relationship with Tuskers past. Prior to last week’s 42-6 shocker over Yorktown in the Section 1 final, the coaches showed the team a video mashup of well-wishes sent from former Somers players. That included familiar members of the 2012 and 2013 teams that had championship seasons cut short by Cornwall in the Class A state quarterfinals.

“Watching that video was awesome,” Gargiulo said. “It showed the influence of the program. It showed us everyone loved coach (Tony DeMatteo) and the coaching staff. Now, going forward, we want to finish what they started.”

DeMatteo, now in his 47th year, hasn’t won a state playoff game in 20 years — since Roosevelt took the Class AA title in 1996. This will be his current program’s fourth try and perhaps its best chance.

In its previous two meetings with Cornwall, Somers struggled to stop star quarterback Mike White, who threw for 636 yards combined and also had a 100-yard rushing game. Cornwall hasn’t been as dynamic this season despite winning a sixth straight Section 9 title. Starting quarterback Kieran Kreider didn’t even play in last week’s 31-0 victory over Goshen and his status is unclear for Saturday.

“I think they’re a very good team, but they don’t have that kind of quarterback,” DeMatteo said. “They have a good quarterback, but not a Mike White.”

The best of DeMatteo’s three previous state-playoff participants was probably his 2012 team. That season was not only derailed by White’s brilliance, but also a scheduling crunch facilitated by the destruction of Hurricane Sandy. Somers played Harrison, Sleepy Hollow and Cornwall in a 10-day span that year.

“There are no excuses,” DeMatteo said. “We have a full week like they do and then we’ll see what happens.”

DeMatteo has pressed his players to consider the importance of winning this week. He has pointed to Doug Packard and his son, Anthony DeMatteo, noting that both were members of the 2000 championship team. They are now 30-something assistants and Somers is still pursuing that program-changing win.

“This team can separate themselves from everyone else in the history of Somers by winning this game,” DeMatteo said.

Sweeney pointed back to the alumni, who expressed their desire to see the Tuskers keep playing deep into November.

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“It really speaks a lot to what a great family atmosphere we have here, even after the players leave,” Sweeney said. “That really got me excited and made me feel like the game was about more than just this team.”

Twitter: @lohudinsider

Somers quarterback Kevin Olifiers scores on a keeper against Yorktown during the Section 1 Class A football championship at Mahopac High School Nov. 6, 2016.

Tappan Zee volleyball’s Hayley Kousoulas is the Journal News Rockland Scholar-Athlete of the Week

Name: Hayley Kousoulas

School: Tappan Zee High School

Class: Senior

Sport: Volleyball

Athletic accomplishments: This season, Kousoulas, a two-year varsity volleyball player, led the team in aces with 53. She was second on the team  in digs with 157 behind her sister. According to coach Mark Stanford, Kousoulas was a defensive specialist who played every singlet set in every single match. She helped lead the Dutchies to a 14-4 finish and to the Section 1 volleyball quarterfinals. Kousoulas is also a two-year varsity softball player.

Academic accomplishments: Kousoulas has a 99.418 GPA. She’s undecided about where’s she’s going to college next year. She’s currently taking two AP courses this year including AP English Literature and AP Calculus and multiple honors courses. She’s a member of the National, Math, Spanish, History and Science honor societies. She’ll soon be a member of the English Honor Society. She’s a member of the Concert Choir.

School and community involvement: Kousoulas is a member of Varsity Athletes Against Substance Abuse and Students Against Destructive Decisions. Kousoulas is a member of the Leo Club. Kousoulas is a writer and Sports Editor for the “Tapress”, the school newspaper. She volunteers with the TZ summer volleyball camp over the summer. She also volunteered with Summer Super Stars STEAM Camp Counselor over the summer

Getting to know Hayley Kousoulas

The Journal News: How did the volleyball season go?

Hayley Kousoulas: It went really well. Our record ended up being 14-4 this year after all the games and we had really good chemistry this year.

TJN: Which was the first sport you played, softball or volleyball?

HK: Softball, I only joined the volleyball team my sophomore year.

TJN: What made you decide to join then?

HK: My younger sister (Madison) joined and after watching her, it seemed like a lot of fun. We practiced over the summer and then I tried out in 10th grade.

TJN: How much of an influence was dad (Dutchies softball coach Gene Kousoulas) when you wanted to play softball?

HK: He originally coached baseball so it was just a similar thing but then I started playing tee ball at like five or six and then stuck with it through little league, then trying out for middle school and high school teams. He was definitely apart of it but I think I kind of started on my own too.

TJN: Do you think you’re playing either of your sports in college next year?

HK: I think definitely volleyball. I don’t know about the school’s team yet but definitely intramural or club. I don’t know about softball yet.

TJN: Do you know where you’re going to school yet or what’s like your top three choices?

HK: No but some of my favorite schools that we’ve visited so far are Bucknell, Villanova and Amherst College. I just don’t know exactly where yet.

TJN: Any ideas yet on what you might want to study?

HK: I’m either leaning towards elementary education or statistics. Two very different things.

TJN: Why elementary education if you go that route and why statistics if you choose that as your major?

HK: So many of my family members are teachers so growing up in that environment, but I love working with younger kids. I’m a summer camp counselor too and I always ask for the younger kids. I tutor a fifth-grader out of school. With statistics, I took AP Stats last year, and I feel in love with the subject.

TJN: Were you always good with math?

HK: Yeah, my dad is also a math teacher. He kind of influenced that part too.

TJN: How was it working at Camp Superstars?

HK: I thought it was really benefitial if I want to go into teaching. You had to test into the camp and it was really smart kids. They learned for the first part of the day even though it was summer camp. Just like getting to work in the classroom really proved to me that I could do that as a living. I really did enjoy it. Getting to work with the kids really showed successful I could be if I really wanted to become a teacher.

The Journal News Rockland Scholar-Athlete of the Week program honors students for their academic, athletic and community achievements. Each week a winner is selected from nominees submitted by athletic directors. Only seniors can be nominated, and the award can be won only once. Nominations must be received by 5 p.m. Monday. The presenting sponsor for The Journal News Rockland Scholar-Athlete program is Gary Goldberg Financial Services.

Debbie Schechter

Twitter:  @LoHud_Debbie

Nadine McKenzie receives flowers before the Mamaroneck at Mount Vernon junior varsity basketball game at Mount Vernon Jan. 6, 2017. Her daughter, Shamoya McKenzie, 13, a member of the Mount Vernon team, was killed by a stray bullet on New Year’s Eve.

MOUNT VERNON – Centercourt had always been reserved for Shamoya McKenzie during Mount Vernon junior varsity girls basketball games. Among her many responsibilities on the basketball court, the 6-foot-2 center had always been tasked with taking the opening tipoff at the start of each game.

When the 13-year-old was tragically killed by a stray bullet last Saturday, it left a hole in the Mount Vernon community.

SHOOTING: Mount Vernon teenager killed in crossfire

MOURNING: City grieves for slain scholar, athlete

MCKENZIE: Friends, teammates remember rising star

In the team’s first home game since McKenzie’s untimely death, both Mount Vernon and Mamaroneck organized a touching tribute for the slain teenager Friday. Mount Vernon did not send anyone to take the opening tipoff, instead lining in unison as the referee tossed the ball into the air. Mamaroneck tipped the ball to Mount Vernon, which walked over to its bench to greet an unassuming Nadine McKenzie, Shamoya’s mother.

Lady Knights players handed her the ball, and comforted her with a group hug.

Soon after, Mount Vernon varsity players lined up to pay their respects.

Then it was Mamaroneck’s turn.

Tigers players on the varsity and junior varsity gifted McKenzie with flowers and hugs, with some in tears during the emotional exchange.

“I’ve never lost someone my age, ever,” Mount Vernon varsity head coach Ayo Hart said after the team’s 60-47 win. “I don’t know that I could’ve at the age of — some of these girls are still seventh-graders — I don’t know that at 12 years old I could get back on the court and focus.”

Hart said she was “amazed” at the resilience the junior varsity has shown the past week.

The Section 1 girls basketball community has been rallying around Mount Vernon in wake of the tragedy. Several programs are raising money at home games in McKenzie’s honor. A GoFundMe page for McKenzie has already raised more than $27,000, all of which is separate from the Section 1 fundraiser.

You can read more about how the section has come together in the face of a horrific tragedy in my column on Monday.

Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud, @LoHudGirlsHoops