CENTRAL NEW YORK – For a decade and a half, a symbol of the Baldwinsville girls volleyball team’s total domination of the area large-school ranks was what it did against West Genesee.
Every time these two teams met, regular season or post-season, it went in the Bees’ favor, including a four-set decision in the 2022 Section III Class AA semifinals.
Yet when these two got together again last Tuesday night in Camillus, the familiar script got tossed out as, down 2-1, WG managed to rally and stun B’ville in five sets, ending a drought against the Bees that dated back to 2008.
Playing only its second match off the season but coming off a tournament appearance in Penfield, B’ville found itself catching up after a 25-21 defeat in the opening set.
Yet when it rolled through the second set 25-15 and then got its own 25-21 win in the third, the Bees appeared to again assert control.
Unlike so many other times in the last 15 years, 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.
To its immense credit, B’ville absorbed this disappointment in a hurry and, just 24 hours later, rebounded with a four-set victory over Fulton.
After it won a close first set 25-21, the Bees lost the second 25-22, only to turn around and, in the third set, take it 25-16 before holding off Fulton 25-21 in the fourth to end it.
Two more tournament appearance, at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake last weekend and Victor this Saturday, bracket league matches against Oswego and Central Square.
