Most opponents of the Westhill girls volleyball team had meekly surrendered this fall, but Oswego provided an exception, staying close throughout last Tuesday night’s match before the Warriors prevailed in four sets.
Even a 25-22 win by Westhill in the opening set did not discourage Oswego, who turned around to take the second set 25-20. By that same margin, the Warriors claimed the third set, and though the Bucs nearly took the match to the wire, Westhill claimed another 25-22 win in the fourth set to end it.
Montana Gedney put together 18 kills and 16 digs, helped on the front line by Bridget Lougen, who had nine kills and four blocks, and Brigid Heinrich, who got seven kills.
Mackenzie Martine earned 32 assists, 10 digs and five kills. Isabella Radio-Rodriguez (eight digs), Sophia Sgroi (seven digs) and Marlena Murphy (six digs) offered defensive help. Oswego had Clara Culeton (15 kills) and Adeline Benjamin (10 kills) work in front of Laurin Furlong (28 assists) and Bri Pfeifer, who had 11 digs.
LaFayette expected to provide another big test on Thursday night, and did so, the Lancers taking the second set 25-23 after dropping the opening set 25-18.
A pivotal third set saw Westhill get into big trouble, but escape it in a 30-28 decision. That seemed to wear LaFayette out as, in the fourth set, the Warriors rolled to a 25-17 victory and remained undefeated.
Lougen led with 17 kills, with Gedney (13 kills, four aces, 10 digs) and Heinrich (11 kills) close behind, all of them fed by Martin’s 35 assists as she added five kills and eight digs. Leah Diefendorf stepped up with 11 digs and three aces. LaFayette’s Rhiannon Abrams had 23 assists and 15 digs, with Sophia Powless adding 14 kills and 15 digs as Logan Booth contributed 12 kills and 17 digs.
Marcellus was 5-3 going into last Tuesday’s match at Skaneateles and may have expected to handle the 3-5 Lakers with ease. Instead, it was the Mustangs who got roughed up in a 25-13, 25-23, 25-18 defeat.
Rachel Randall did manage 15 digs and Sydney French earned six assists, with Meghan O’Brien (six kills), Allison Field (four kills) and Margaret Kianka (three kills) working on the front line. For Skaneateles, Jessica Patalino (seven kills), Cassidy Pitman (six kills) and Emma Goodell (11 digs) led the way.
Recovering quickly, Marcellus swept Hannibal on Thursday night with each of the first two sets ending in 25-18 margins before a 25-15 third set. O’Brien and Katherine Sauro each got 10 kills, helped by Kianka, who had eight kills as Olivia Quick dished out 26 assists.
Solvay returned to winning form last Tuesday by routing Hamilton 25-17, 25-6, 25-17. Anna Rolince managed 10 aces, four kills, two blocks and three digs, with Bella Petralito getting eight kills and Brielle Bagozzi five kills.
Also for the Bearcats, Hailey McNamara and Allie Posnick each had three aces as Posnick gained seven assists and Mackenzie McCarthy had 12 assists. Taylor Preble had six digs and Phebe Guadagnolo added five digs.
Against Phoenix two nights later, Solvay won again, rolling through the first two sets 25-16 and 25-15 and two points from a sweep before the Firebirds claimed the third set, 25-23, forcing the Bearcats to play a fourth set where it closed things 25-14.
McCarthy had 15 assists, five assists (both team highs) and eight digs, with Allie Posnick getting 12 assists and 11 digs. Petralito and Preble both had 17 digs and Guadagnolo 14 digs as, on the front line, Ashley Bosco earned nine kills and four blocks, with Bagozzi adding eight kills, Petralito six kills and Rolince and Lauren Nichols five kills apiece.
