Once again, the West Genesee girls volleyball team sought to topple Baldwinsville and seize the Section III Class AA championship. Once again, the effort was valiant, with the Wildcats gaining confidence and momentum as the match went along.
Yet none of that could keep the Bees from prevailing in three sets Wednesday night at Cicero-North Syracuse High School’s gymnasium, repeating what it had done to WG in two previous outings this fall.
Going in, the Wildcats were feeling good about its form, having swept Liverpool in its Nov. 3 sectional semifinal while, on that same night, B’ville had split the first two sets with Fayetteville-Manlius in its semifinal before finishing it out in four sets. Perhaps the Bee were a bit vulnerable.
On the game’s opening rally, several digs were made before WG won it. Then B’ville rattled off nine consecutive points, displaying some of its best form of the season and not letting up until it had put away the Wildcats by a 25-6 margin.
Things did get closer from there, with the Wildcats forging 11 different ties in the second set and leading, 13-12, before B’ville put together another 9-0 spurt. That made the difference as the Bees eventually prevailed 25-16 to take a two-set advantage.
WG chased B’ville throughout the third set, rallying from a 17-10 deficit and then, at 24-20, killing off three straight match points before Maddie Stone’s touch shot ended it, 25-23, and clinched another sectional title.
In their last matches with the Wildcats, seniors Sasha Mekker and Jaylin Mallore both stood out, Mekker recording 18 assists and joining Mallore as they both earned 14 assists, going full-out at times to keep rallies alive.
Another senior, Rachel Hillery, had five kills, to go with eight digs, while Carolyn King picked up eight kills, two aces and three assists. Madison Smith contributed four kills, with Audrey Dennis getting eight digs and three kills. Sam Sprague finished with three digs.
For B’ville, Maddie Stone delivered 27 assists to go with six kills, while Michelle Voyer got nine kills. Kiannah Titus matched Stone’s total of six kills as Katie Welcher contributed seven kills and five blocks. Parrow-Strong had four kills, with Abby Monica and Kristen Liu adding three kills apiece and Summer McClintic earning six digs.
WG will see Mekker, Mallore, Hillery and Clare Leo graduate from its 12-4 squad, but in 2017 will return the likes of King, Dennis, Madison Smith, Mackenzie Smith, Madison Stanton, Sam Sprague, Caroline Sgroi and Greta Jasinski.
