Albion spikers best Notre Dame

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 5 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Chanyce Powell (10) spikes over Notre Dame’s Shea Norton (2) during the Purple Eagles key home court win over the Irish this evening.

A fast start and a strong finish combined to power Albion to a 25-15, 25-17, 14-25, 25-17 victory over visiting Notre Dame this evening in a key late season battle between undefeated league leaders.

Albion, which leads the Niagara-Orleans League at 8-0, took the first set 25-15 highlighted by 4 spiking kills by Chanyce Powell and 2 by Kaitlyn VanSkiver. VanSkiver also had a key run of 6 straight service points to rally the Purple Eagles into the lead for good at 13-9.

Keeping the momentum, Albion took the second set 25-17 as Powell had 3 kills and 2 blocks and Kelsee Soule 3 service aces.

However, Notre Dame, which leads the Genesee Region League Division 1 standings at 9-0, battled back to take the third set 25-14 as Margaret Sutherland had a key run of 5 straight points to put the Irish up 21-10.

Albion’s Ashlee Bocach dives to save the ball.

The decisive fourth set saw half a dozen lead changes before Albion finally regained the lead for good at 21-16 after a key run of 4 straight service points by Emilie Barleben, a run which featured 2 aces along with kills by Meghan Hurley and Aleah Foos.

Another kill by Soule got service right back for Albion and the Purple Eagles quickly closed out the set and the match behind a 3 point run by Ashlee Bocach. Powell polished off each of those points with a kill followed by back-to-back blocks.

Albion’s Aleah Foos (12) blocks a spike attempt by Notre Dame’s Rebecca Krezner.

“We did have a strong finsh,” said Albion Coach Ann Capacci. “We needed to get back on track and get our rhythm back and we did that in the last set. Notre Dame is a good team and playing good teams like that makes you better.”

Albion resumes N-O action on Wednesday at Roy-Hart.

Newfane 25-25-25
Lyndonville13-13-9
Taylor McGhee had 7 kills and 6 aces, Faith Morgan 10 kills and Madison Wolcott 5 kills and 4 aces to lead Newfane to a 25-13, 25-13, 25-9 non league win over visiting Lyndonville.

Kendall 25-25-25
Rochester Academy Charter 6-9-12
Kendall romped to a straight set 25-6, 25-9, 25-12 non league victory over Rochester Academy Charter as Sarah Pearson led the way with 30 service points, including 17 aces.

Lexi Payton and Chelsea Wright each chipped in with 5 aces for the Lady Eagles.