Photos: Birds Fly, Dutch Defeated
Anything can happen when it comes to sectional play: It’s win or go-home time. On Friday, the Voorheesville Blackbirds won while the Guilderland Dutchmen lost.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Setting up her team on Friday, Voorheesville’s Emily Bablin, left, gets her hands under the ball during the second set as her teammate Amelia Rowland looks on. Bablin had 13 kills, six service points, and four aces in the quarterfinal win. The Blackbirds’ undefeated season, 17-0, was still intact with a straight-set victory — 25-10, 25-12, 25-20 — in the Class C sectional quarterfinal at home Friday evening.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Putting away one of her seven kills, Blackbirds' Victoria Konicki spikes the ball past Fonda-Fultonville’s Marilyn Whitcavitch. The Blackbirds moved on to the semifinals on Wednesday evening, beating Mayfield in three straight sets — 25-7, 25-16, 26-24. The Birds will play for the Class C championship on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Saratoga High School against Lake George.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Symmetrical hands: Voorheesville’s Katy Bablin sets the ball in the second set for a teammate in the Blackbirds’ straight set — 25-10, 25-12, 25-20 — Class C sectional quarterfinal win last Friday. Katy Bablin had 18 service points, 17 assists, and four aces. The Bablin sisters dominated in Wednesday’s semi-finals: Emily had 12 service points, seven aces, eight kills, and eight digs while Katy had 15 service points, four aces, and 17 assists. Marie Julian and Victoria Konicki added eight kills each.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Chipping it over a pair of hands, Guilderland's Chloe Bonavita flips the ball over the Bethlehem’s defense in the first set. Bonavita had eight kills and eight blocks.The Guilderland Dutchmen faced off against seventh-seed Bethlehem last Friday at home. The Dutch, the second-seed, played well in the first set but ended with a Class AA sectional quarterfinal loss — 25-17, 21-25, 22-25, 26-24, 17-25. “Bethlehem’s defense played well,” said Guilderland’s coach, Tamara Bryngelson-Eppard.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
The Eagles’ defense was the story in the fifth set as Amber Nunizato, right, sees her shot blocked by the fingertips of the Bethlehem player. Nunizato had three aces, 12 kills, and seven blocks.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Using her long arms: Guilderland’s Amber Nunizato jumps up and blocks a Bethlehem player’s attempted spike in the first set. Nunizato had three aces, 12 kills, and seven blocks in the five-set Class AA sectional quarterfinal upset loss.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Eyes on the ball: Guilderland’s Julz Venduro bumps the ball up toward a teammate after a Bethlehem serve in the first set.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Powerful winner: Guilderland’s Nicole McGrath spikes a winner past two Bethlehem players in the first set. McGrath had 11 kills, five aces, and eight digs in the five-set — 25-17, 21-25, 22-25, 26-24, 17-25 — loss in the Class AA sectional quarterfinal at home last Friday.