Thursday Volleyball: Defending D3 Champ Fillmore perseveres through marathon 2nd set to build momentum towards straight-set win over No. 12 Hammondsport; B-R, Houghton also record 1st round sweeps

FILLMORE — The Class D3 title defense for the Lady Eagles of Fillmore got underway for what would be the final time they would play on their home court inside The Rock. With No. 12 Hammondsport in town, they are a worthy adversary that can never be taken lightly.

Even with a fast and overpowering start under their belts, the Lady Eagles would then see the Lady Lakers at their absolute best in the second set, when a back-and-forth marathon ensued in extra serves. It was the kind of battle that could provide a game-changing momentum swing for whoever came out on top.

With their first set dominance already in the wagon, Fillmore would add on, as the five-seeds outlasted Hammondsport in a remarkable fight that saw them come out on top with the victory in the set, and the match, rolling towards a straight-set sweep to move into Saturday’s Quarterfinal round with a 25-5, 31-29, 25-15 decision.

“I was really happy to start Sectionals with a great win,” said Lady Eagles coach Lacie Fuller. “The girls showed some good moments of strong play and some perseverance in that second set.”

The Lady Eagles (8-10) saw Cadence Evans take charge of the offense, leading with six kills and three aces. Skylar Gaddy chipped in with four more kills to pair with three aces, while Jenna Austin had four team-leading aces to couple with a pair of kills. The team’s setter in Zoe Hubbard would be busy at the front of the net, as she handed out 18 assists.

Prior to the Class D3 First Round battle for Fillmore, Bolivar-Richburg also took center stage in The Rock to battle No. 11 Oakfield-Alabama in their Class D1 battle to open up their Sectional journey.

Like the Lady Eagles, the sixth-seeded Lady Wolverines acted quickly on a fast start of the Lady Hornets and ran away with it. Even though some pressure was applied in the middle set, the team in black and red was able to take care of business and claim a Quarterfinals spot of their own this weekend behind a straight-set, 25-10, 25-21, 25-15 victory.

Bolivar-Richburg saw an electric performance from Kori Thomas unfold, as she tallied a game-high 11 kills to pair alongside three aces. On defense, Haley Mascho provided a solid effort by keeping the ball off the floor, tallying 18 digs to go with a pair of aces, while Brena Walp furthered that cause with five digs of her own to couple with four kills and four aces. Up front, Willow Worth assisted in setting the offense up with 18 handouts.

Both Allegany County squads are back in action in the Quarterfinal round beginning on Saturday, as Fillmore now heads down the road to take on No. 4 Houghton Academy in a rematch of last year’s Finals in Class D3, in a 2 p.m. start.

“Houghton is a consistent team that doesn’t do a lot to beat themselves. We know that we have to play consistent, stay focused and stay energized the entire time. We are looking forward to the challenge that they bring,” said Fuller of Houghton Academy.

While for Bolivar-Richburg, they now prepare for a long road trip to visit No. 3 Gananda in the Class D1 Quarterfinal round, beginning in a 5 p.m. first serve.

Class D3 First Round

No. 4 Houghton Academy 3, No. 13 Keshequa 0

HOUGHTON — After a strong finish consisting of three straight wins, the Lady Panthers of Houghton Academy were poised to make another run back to the Class D3 Finals. Their trek began Thursday night on their home floor in opening round action against No. 13 Keshequa.

Like clockwork, the Lady Panthers began the evening just like how they ended it — strong, as the four-seeds scored a dominant start and used the momentum to its fullest advantage across all three sets, recording the straight set win over the Lady Indians to advance into this weekend’s Quarterfinal round with a 25-9, 25-12, 25-9 win.

The Lady Panthers (10-7) have been propelled by their dynamic duo all season long, and with their help, they were able to garner the start they wanted to begin Sectionals, as Jess Prentice and Jessica Adenuga were dominant on the attack, with Adenuga leading the way from the service line with a game-high 11 aces, pairing them with eight digs and seven kills.

Prentice furthered the cause with a nine game-high kill night of her own, coupling them with seven aces and six more digs.

On Saturday, it will be a Class D3 Finals rematch in the Quarterfinal round, as Houghton Academy will host their neighbors from right down the road, taking on the defending champions — No. 5 Fillmore, in a 2 p.m. first serve.

No. 7 Elba 3, No. 10 Genesee Valley/Belfast 0

ELBA — The seventh-seeded Elba Lady Lancers were on it from start to finish against No. 10 Genesee Valley/Belfast, as they used a powerful opening set to put the hammer down right away, while holding off a late push from their visiting opposition in the third and final set, as they recorded the straight-set sweep in their Class D3 First Round battle by a 25-8, 25-17, 25-21 count on Thursday.

Individual statistics for Genesee Valley/Belfast were not made available to report upon publication.

The season is over for Genesee Valley/Belfast, as they conclude with a record of 2-18 overall. The team will graduate just one senior at the end of the school year, in Raygen Haggstrom.

No. 11 Hinsdale vs No. 6 Lyndonville - No report.