Having marched all the way to a state Class B championship in Glens Falls 2018, the Westhill girls volleyball team needed just one more win to get back there.
The undefeated Warriors were challenged Saturday by Section V champion Honeoye Falls-Lima in the Class B regional final at Jamesville-DeWitt, but it turned back that challenge quite well, sweeping the Cougars.
Strong at the outset, Westhill took the first set 25-16. HF-L inched a bit closer in the second set, but the Warriors prevailed there 25-20, and though it almost got extended, Westhill closed out the Cougars 25-22 in the third.
Sara Galante, who finished with 17 kills and seven digs, paced a strong front line with Hannah Schmitz and Kate Hinrich, with passes flowing from Sarah Schwartz as she earned 31 assists and 10 digs. Libero Gianna Militi earned 15 digs, plus four assists and two aces.
As soon as Westhill was done, Skaneateles took to the court for the Class C regional final against Section VI champion Portville, a full week removed from its epochal comeback to beat Cazenovia in the sectional final.
But there would be no comeback here.
Having claimed the first set 25-12, the Panthers cut off the Lakers’ best attempt to climb into the match by winning the second set 25-12. Then, fully remembering what Skaneateles did against Cazenovia, Portville won the third set 25-10 to end it.
This Saturday at 3 p.m., Westhill returns to Glens Falls’ Cool Insuring Arena (formerly the Civic Center) and the state final four. It will play six sets against the three other teams in the field (Broadalbin-Perth, Ardsley and Seaford), with the top two finishers advancing to Sunday’s final at 2 p.m.
