By Jordan J. Michael

SARATOGA –– The Voorheesville girls’ volleyball team upset perennial powerhouse Lake George in 2007 for the Class C title. The Warriors came prepared in 2008.

“Our opponents didn’t really take us seriously last year,” said Head Coach Sandy Vorse before the Wednesday night game. “We surprised Lake George last year but I think they will be ready this time.”

The Ladybirds had defeated Saratoga Catholic in the quarterfinals and Galway in the semi-finals coming into Wednesday’s final at Skidmore College.

Voorheesville has spent the season without Alissa Hatch, its offensive specialist, who has been out due to illness.

“We had to re-work the offense when she went out. We’ve missed her,” said Vorse. “Luckily, Mollee Barone was there to pick up the pieces. She has been running the offense and doing a great job.”

Lake George beat Voorheesville, three games to one, on Wednesday to take the sectional title.

The first game was knotted at 15, but the Warriors pulled away to a 21-to-16 lead with the help of strong hits by Sara Anderson. Voorheesville’s Seneca Gray killed the ball after a long rally and Lake George was only now up by one, 23 to 22.

The Warriors’ Chelsea Scott served it into the net on game point, giving the Ladybirds another chance. Shelby Jenkins gave Lake George the first game, 25 to 23.

Vorse starts three sophomores who haven’t seen this type of heavy play before. “I’m sure their nerves were a little high,” she said.

Voorheesville struggled to get the ball over the net in the outset of the second game, going down 5 to1. Gray served an ace to get within two, 17 to 15. Gray dropped another ace in to tie the score at 17.

Rebecca Bablin spiked a shot on the line for the Ladybirds and the game was tied at 22. A Morgan Vandervort block and a Gray kill gave Voorheesville a 24-to-22 lead. Lake George would rally and take the second game, 26 to 24.

“We couldn’t get the timing and normally we hit the ball better,” Vorse said. “It was frustrating for my hitters because the balls kept coming back to us. Lake George lasted long and made good recoveries.”

The tide turned when Voorheesville took the third game, 25 to 20. Gray, Bablin, Arielle Smith, Barone, and Amanda O’Brien had a huge impact on the court and the whole team played with a high intensity.

“We played well and didn’t get frustrated,” said Smith. “Things didn’t go our way. Both teams can’t win.”

The Ladybirds lost a hard-fought fourth game, 25 to 18. The team was never out of the match and the volleyball remained interesting throughout.

“This team has a great attitude and attitude is everything,” said Vorse. “We made a comeback or stayed within a couple points in every game. This team believes in themselves.”

Voorheesville had a 15-4 record in the tough Colonial Council this year. The team finished in a three-way tie for second with Schalmont and Cobleskill. “I’ve seen a lot of dedication this year,” Vorse said.

Barone, O’Brien, and Smith were named to the first team all Colonial Council. Gray and Ellen Wagner were named to the second team and Vandervort received honorable mention.

Vorse and some of her players may have been shedding some tears after the match was over, but not because of losing. “These tears are for the end of the season, not being able to play anymore,” said Vorse.

Hatch, O’Brien, Barone, Smith, and Gray have will no longer play volleyball for Voorheesville, but they seemed in good spirits after the match. Vorse said that she was proud of their leadership this season.

“What we don’t have in height,” said O’Brien, “we have in heart.”