In its longest match of the season, the West Genesee girls volleyball team fell way behind, then fought for the only points that mattered — and claimed them.
As a result, the Wildcats beat the Warriors in five games last Tuesday night, improving its record to 10-2 in the process.
All looked to be troubling for two games. Liverpool, on its home court, fought to a 25-21 victory in the opener, then took the second game 25-21.
Having not erased a 2-0 deficit in any match this season, WG began to turn around by dominating the third game, claiming it 25-14.
A long, tense fourth game followed. Several times, the Wildcats were within two points of defeat, but fought off Liverpool’s attempts to close it out. WG finally took the game, 28-26, to draw even.
In terms of excitement, the decisive fifth game matched the fourth, again going beyond the wire. At 24-24, WG got back the serve, then were successful on match point to complete its rally, 26-24.
Up front, Morgan McDermott put up 11 kills, with Jill Cleland adding nine kills. Katie Lee had six aces and six assists and Carly Graham managed things by earning 12 assists, four aces and two kills.
In defeat, the Warriors had Amy Street earn 39 assists. Sarah Olivet had 12 kills, with Kayla Gallipeau adding nine kills and four blocks.
This came smack in the middle of a stretch where WG played three matches in four days, and that might have taken a cumulative toll.
To tune up for the bigger matches, the Wildcats rolled through Auburn last Monday night, sweeping the Maroons 25-5, 25-8, 25-9.
Carly Graham and Katie Lee each had five aces, adding to Graham’s total of 12 assists. Katie Griffin did even better, with seven aces, as Remillard and Amanda DeFisher put up five kills apiece.
Two days after the Liverpool comeback, the Wildcats could not repeat the magic against Fayetteville-Manlius, losing in three games to the Hornets.
Each of the games were tight, but WG could never get on the board as F-M, by scores of 25-18, 25-22 and 25-20, got on top and stayed there.
Lauren Drozynski had six kills, while Graham had four assists, four kills and two aces. Lee put up four assists.
This was WG’s last home match of the regular season. The Wildcats (10-3) will visit Oswego, Fowler and Corcoran this week before the post-season starts.
