Each of the Vernon-Verona-Sherrill and Oneida girls volleyball teams ventured out in the Section III Class A playoffs — but just one of them escaped the opening round.
As the no. 5 seed, the Red Devils defended its home court in last Tuesday’s opening round, sweeping no. 12 seed Chittenango as the no. 9 seed Indians fell to no. 8 seed East Syracuse-Minoa in four.
VVS pounded the Bears 25-10 in the opening game, then got its lone scare in the second game before surviving 26-24. That led to a 25-13 third-game rout.
Alexis Albro, with eight kills, led a deep front line where Rikki Kneeskern, Rachel Brown and Stephanie Siriano each had four kills. Kneeskern added five aces. Brown also anchored the Red Devils’ back line with 12 kills.
Meanwhile, Oneida put up a great fight at ESM, dropping the opener 25-15 before winning the second game 25-18. The Spartans quickly reclaimed control, though, as it won the third game 25-17 and the fourth game 25-21 to end the Indians’ season.
This came despite Rachel Kline ruling at the net with 28 kills and eight blocks, with Shannon Dowling earning 27 assists. ESM had Andee Fox earn 12 kills and Brittany Siechen pick up 22 assists, plus four kills and five aces. Oneida finished with a record of 7-10.
In Friday night’s Class A quarterfinal, VVS will host no. 13 seed Cortland, who upset no. 4 seed Carthage in the opening round in a three-game sweep.
