Lady Tigers Net Citywide Championship

Queensborough Community College's women's volleyball team won its first citywide championship late last month, making it the team's first five boroughs victory since the team was formed more than 30 years ago.

But Lady Tigers team members, several of whom are from Douglaston and Bayside, said the victory was even sweeter after the team nearly fell apart before the season even started.

"This was the first year ever that the school won the tournament," Coach Jason Demas said.  "And it was my first year coaching as well. It was a first for everything."

The team defeated Borough of Manhattan Community College 3-0 on Oct. 25. Queensborough, which draws a number of students from northeast Queens, is located at 222-05 56th Ave. in Oakland Gardens.

But members of the team said the season was nearly cancelled just several days before their first game in September because, at that point, they still did not have a coach.

"Honestly, it was fantastic," said Douglaston player Alicia Sanchez, who recently moved to the neighborhood from Astoria. "Winning this really, really meant a lot. We struggled last year. We were pretty horrible and we almost didn't have a team this year.  So, to be able to come back and win it in a big way really meant the world. We knew where our strengths were and we used them."

Sanchez, who is in her second year of school, plays middle hitter on the team.

Marisabel Molina, of Bayside, said the game was special because the team was completely transformed within the course of a season.

"It was one of the greatest feelings in the world to watch that last point unfold," she said. "We were all so nervous and excited. It was such a relief to accomplish the goal that we set before the season started."

The tournament included all of the City University of New York's teams. Queensborough had played in the tournament for several decades but had never won, Demas said.

Molina, a senior, played two years on the team was its captain this year. The CUNY player of the year was Astoria's Samantha Leousakos, a freshman.

The college's Lady Tigers basketball team also recently scored a big win, defeating the Borough of Manhattan Community College for the title of Women's Community College Basketball Champions.

The team has won the championship for three years in a row.