Girls volleyball playoff roundup: Fabius-Pompey edges Sandy Creek in 5 dramatic sets

Friday night’s Section III Class D girls volleyball quarterfinal between third-seeded Fabius-Pompey and No. 6 Sandy Creek truly came down to the wire.

It was a back-and-forth five-set matchup, but the Falcons held on for a 3-2 victory and a spot in next week’s semifinal round.

“It was a battle,” Fabius-Pompey coach Amy Wagner said. “It was a battle by both squads. So coming away with a win tonight was surreal. It was awesome. (Sandy Creek is) a great squad. They’re a great team.”

The Comets took the first set, 25-21, but the Falcons responded with a 25-18 victory in the second set. Fabius-Pompey took their first lead with a 26-24 victory in the third set, but Sandy Creek knotted things back up with a 25-15 win in the fourth.

Heading into the final set, Wagner told her team to just “relax and play your game.”

“Go out, have fun no matter the outcome,” she said to her team. “Win or lose. You guys have played great volleyball tonight. Just go out, relax, have fun, and play your game.”

Her Falcons responded with a 15-10 victory in the fifth and final set.

Senior Ashlee Freebern finished with three aces, 10 kills, four blocks, an assist and 26 digs for Fabius-Pompey. Junior Izzy Burton led the team with 18 kills and junior Elsa Hull recorded a team-best 19 assists.

Fabius-Pompey (16-5) will next face either second-seeded Remsen or No. 7 New York Mills in the semifinal round on Tuesday.

Sandy Creek’s season ends with a 10-9 mark.

Class A

No. 1 New Hartford 3, No. 8 Watertown 0

The Spartans (17-1) will now advance to the semifinals to face No. 4 East Syracuse Minoa on Tuesday.

No. 2 Rome Free Academy 3, No. 7 Central Valley Academy 0

The Black Knights earned a victory in the sectional quarterfinals against the Thunder in three sets. They won by scores of 25-20, 25-17 and 25-21.

RFA (17-1) now advances to the semifinals for a matchup against third-seeded Camden on Tuesday.

CVA’s season ends with a 6-12 mark.

>> Class A brackets

Class B

No. 4 Clinton 3, No. 5 Lowville 0

The Comets (13-6) host No. 9 Oneida in a semifinal matchup on Tuesday.

No. 3 Chittenango 3, No. 11 Vernon Verona Sherrill 0

The Bears defeated the Red Devils in the sectional quarterfinals in three straight sets: 25-14, 25-8 and 25-15.

Senior Alex Sylstra finished with two aces, four kills, 14 assists and 12 digs for Chittenango, while senior Ally Smith had one ace, seven kills, one assist and 13 digs for Chittenango.

VVS’s season comes to an end with a 3-17 record.

Chittenango (13-5) will face No. 2 CBA in a semifinal matchup on Tuesday.

No. 2 Christian Brothers Academy 3, No. 7 Holland Patent 0

The Brothers made easy work of the Golden Knights in three straight sets during the sectional quarterfinals. They won by scores of 25-15, 25-19 and 25-11.

Senior Abigail Uryniak led CBA with seven aces, three kills and two digs, and junior Carleah Morgia finished with six aces, seven kills and five digs. Neveah Bacheyie chipped in nine kills and junior Josie Lachut led the team with 17 assists.

Holland Patent ends the year with a 9-11 mark.

CBA (14-4) gets a semifinal matchup against third-seeded Chittenango on Tuesday.

>> Class B brackets

Class C

No. 1 Mount Markham 3, No. 9 South Lewis 0

The Falcons’ season comes to an end at 9-11

The Mustangs (17-0) advance to Tuesday’s semifinal round to face either No. 4 Cooperstown or No. 5 Dolgeville.

No. 2 Beaver River 3, No. 7 Little Falls 0

The Beavers (16-0) will face No. 3 Tully in the semifinal round on Tuesday.

>> Class C brackets

Class D

No. 1 Cincinnatus 3, No. 9 Manlius Pebble Hill 0

The Lions (16-2) advance to Tuesday’s semifinals for a matchup against fourth-seeded Old Forge or fifth-seeded Stockbridge Valley.

>> Class D brackets

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