CAMILLUS – Another long rally, another clutch spike – and then the celebration started, West Genesee girls volleyball players reacting like they had won a championship, even though it was early September.
The Wildcats had good reason to celebrate, though, because it had gone out Tuesday night and, coming from behind in a five-set classic, accomplished something it had not done in 15 years – defeat Baldwinsville
In recent decades, the Bees have dominated area large-school volleyball, and though it moves to a newly-formed Class AAA for the post-season, it still meets WG and others in the Salt City Athletic Conference Metro division.
Still, the Wildcats remembered how competitive it was falling in four sets to B”ville in last fall’s sectional Class AA semifinals and, armed with that confidence, would carve out a different result here.
A close opening set would see WG get in front late and then take it, 25-21. That proved a cushion against the Bees rolling through the second set 25-15 and then going in front with its own 25-21 win in the third/
Unlike so many other times since 2008, though, WG responded to the adversity, claiming the fourth set 25-19. Then a tense final set went back and forth until, at 14-14, the Wildcats got the serve and managed to win a long rally on match point.
Sonya Dunham amassed 19 assists and 16 digs on WG’s back line as Colleen Barry also had 16 digs and Sidney Hamilton earned 14 assists, plus nine digs.
Claire DeVore (12 kills, three blocks) and Isabella Vallely (nine kills, five blocks) led WG’s front line, while Ella Bickering had six kills and Lilliana Iacampo managed four kills
Before all this, WG got its season underway Sept. 1 with a 25-6, 25-13, 25-6 romp over Auburn. Sophia Simiele had six aces to go with seven digs as Hamilton recorded 15 assists. Norah Emery led the front line with seven kills, Iacampo and Alaina Dudzinski getting four kills apiece.
