Photos: Birds' Wings Clipped in State Semis
The Voorheesville Blackbirds girls’ volleyball team returned to the state championships — for the first time since 2013 after a four-year run — Saturday at the Glens Falls arena. The Blackbirds of Section 2 faced Millbrook of Section 9, Portville of Section 6, and Pierson/Bridgehampton of Section 11 in pool play on Saturday morning. Voorheesville ended up tied for third in the state.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
The teams were split into groups or pools where they played each team in their group in a round-robin system. The Birds went 1-5 in pool play on Saturday, losing their first two matches to Millbrook (20-25, 14-25) and Portville (13-25, 18-25) but came back and split against Pierson/Binghampton (21-25, 25-18). The Voorheesville defense was tested as Emily Bablin has to extend themselves for Millbrook serves in the first set of the Blackbirds’ two-set loss. Bablin had a total of 14 kills, 13 digs, and eight service points
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
The Birds fought tough in all three matches but the ball didn’t find its mark. And so a stellar season for the Blackbirds — which became both sectional and regional champs — came to a close. Putting her hands up high, Blackbirds' Marie Julian reaches for the ball from a Millbrook serve. Julian had a total of six kills and 21 service points in the three matches.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Arms extended: Voorheesville's Leureah Cummings gets her forearms on the ball after a Portville return in the second matchup for the Blackbirds.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Just getting her fingertips on the ball: Blackbirds' Katy Bablin reaches with her right arm as she attempts to get the ball over the outstretched hands of Pierson/Binghampton’s Hannah Tuma in the first-set loss. Bablin had 28 assists, four aces, and 12 service points total in the three matches.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Getting her talons on it: Blackbirds' Victoria Konicki leaps up to block the Pierson/Binghampton spike in the first-set loss. Konicki had a total of eight blocks and 20 kills in the three matches.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Big bump: Voorheesville’s Marie Julian gets her forearms on the ball after a Pierson/Binghampton serve in the first-set loss, 21-25, but the Birds came back to win the second set, 25-18. Julian had 13 service points in the third match and overall had six kills and 21 service points.