Alden spikers top Medina in Class B-2 final

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Je’ne Brown tips the ball over the hands of Alden’s Shelby Kersten during the Mustangs loss to the Lady Bulldogs this evening in the Section VI Class B-2 championship match at Daemen College.

A powerful spiking attack powered top seeded Alden to a four set 25-13, 20-25, 25-15, 25-20 victory over No. 2 Medina in the Section VI Class B-2 volleyball championship this evening at Daemen College.

Shelby Kersten, a 6-2 junior, pounded home 25 spiking kills for points to spearhead the Alden attack which also got 8 kills by sophomore Emma Wlostowski.

Je’ne Brown led Medina at the net with 10 kills.

Maddie Williams returns service for Medina.

Kersten had a huge opening set with 8 kills, 1 block, 1 tip and 1 service ace to account for 11 of the Lady Bulldogs 25 points in the 25-13 win.

Medina though did battle back to even the match by taking the second set highlighted by 5 kills by Brown.

Leading by a narrow 12-11 margin, the Mustangs saw Maddie Williams serve up points 13-16, including 3 aces, and Elle Gross 18-22, also including 3 aces, to key the victory as Grace Masse also registered an ace for point 24.

Two kills by Williams, along with one by Camri King, helped keep Medina within two at 12-10 midway through the pivotal third set but the Mustangs could get no closer.

A three point run of service points by Wlostowski opened up a little breathing room for Alden which got 8 kills and 2 blocks for points from Kersten in the set which the Lady Bulldogs claimed 25-15.

Medina though again came battling back to take leads of 12-7, 13-10 and 15-14 in the fourth set as Leah Sheelar served up points 4-7, including an ace, and Williams points 11-12 with an ace as Brown added 3 kills and a block for points.

However, Alden outscored Medina 10-5 down the stretch to lock up the set and the match.

Kersten had 6 kills and 2 blocks and Wlostowski 5 kills to spark the Lady Bulldogs in that set.

The victory advances Alden to a Monday meeting with B-1 champion East Aurora for the overall Section VI Class B title and a berth in the state playoffs. East Aurora downed Maryvale in three sets to claim the B-1 title.

The championship match was the first for Medina since 1995 when the Mustangs ironically defeated Alden for the B-2 title.

Section V Class C2

Byron-Bergen 25-25-25, Letchworth 20-19-19

Laurne Burke had 12 kills, Madison Farnsworth 9 aces and 6 kills and Catherine Brumsted 3 kills and 2 aces to lead undefeated Byron-Bergen (18-0)  to a straight set win over Letchworth in a Section V Class C2 match.

B-B next faces Geneseo at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Bloomfield.

Medina’s Camri King blocks a spike attempt by Alden’s Emma Wlostowski.