Albion spikers outlast Byron-Bergen

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Aleah Foos (12) and Byron-Bergen’s Bethany Ezard meet at the net during the host Purple Eagles win over the Bees this evening.

Completing an undefeated (17-0) regular season, Albion outlasted visiting Byron-Bergen 25-20, 24-26, 25-23, 25-15 this evening in a non league clash between league champions.

Albion, which captured a third straight Niagara-Orleans League championship, was led by Chanyce Powell with 11 spiking kills, 4 blocks, 9 digs and 3 service aces; Meghan Hurley 9 kills, 16 assists, 16 digs and 3 aces and Kelsee Soule 6 kills, 2 blocks and 15 digs.

The Purple Eagles also had Aleah Foos with 3 kills and 3 blocks, Kassidy Hastings 8 assists, 5 digs and 1 ace, Ashlee Bocach 5 digs, Emilie Barleben 1 kill and 4 digs and Sierra Newton 3 aces and 2 digs.

“It was a good competition and a good win for our kids,” said Albion Coach Ann Capacci. “You want to play good competition like that as it only helps you get better.”

Byron-Bergen, which shared the Genesee Region League title with Notre Dame, was paced by Lauren Burke with 21 assists, Bryanna D’Agustino 5 kills and 11 digs and Leah Catalino 14 digs.

Albion’s Chanyce Powell digs up a spike return.

Newton registered back-to-back aces to complete Albion’s 25-20 win in the first set which also saw Hurley and VanSkiver both register 3 kills and Powell 2.

Byron-Bergen though bounced back to knot the match by taking the second set in overtime 26-24 as D’Agostino had 3 kills down the stretch and Madison Farnsworth a key run of four straight serve points to put the Bees up 18-15.

However, Albion countered with a narrow 25-23 victory in the third set to regain the match lead for good. Barleben, Soule, Hurley, Powell and VanSkiver all contributed kills for points during the stretch run of that set.

Keeping the momentum, the Purple Eagles then closed out the victory with a 25-15 win in the fourth set.

Breaking away from an 8-8 deadlock, Albion regain service and the lead for good on a kill by VanSkiver.

Hastings then served up five straight points (15-19) to up the Albion lead to 19-9.
Kills by Hurley for point 22 and by Powell for point 24 then helped the Purple Eagles close out the win.

“They handed us our only regular season loss last year so it was nice to get this win and finish clean,” said Capacci.

Albion’s Kassidy Hastings serves up an ace.

Akron 25-25-25
Medina 12-15-23
Akron closed out a 10-2 N-O League campaign by downing host Medina (7-5) in straight sets 25-12, 25-15, 25-23.

Molley Gross had 5 kills and 5 digs, Carley Schultz 4 kills and 1 ace, Emily Kams 1 kill and 7 assists, Lexi Sargent 1 ace and Meghan O’Keede 1 ace for the Mustangs.

Roy-Hart 25-25-25
Wilson 15-21-13
Roy-Hart completed a 7-5 N-O season by downing host Wilson (3-9) 25-15, 25-21, 25-13.

Bea Bacon had 10 kills, 8 service points and 2 aces; Skyler Christopher 8 kills, 9 points and 3 aces; Becca Albrecht 10 points and 3 klls and Brianna Brewer 7 points and 26 assist to lead the way for the Lady Rams.