G-R tops N-O in senior volleyball match

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Maya Knaak sends the ball over the net for the Niagara-Orleans League as Wheatland-Chili’s Taylor Drummond attempts to block for the Genesee Region League during this evening’s Exceptional Senior volleyball match at Lyndonville.

Taking the first two sets, the Genesee Region League went on to defeat the Niagara-Orleans League 25-23, 25-16, 20-25, 25-22 in the Exceptional Senior volleyball match this evening at Lyndonville.

The N-O did tie the first set at 23-23 after back-to-back service aces by Elsie Logan (Akron). However, the G-R took the next two points, getting No. 24 on a side out, and No. 25 off a serve by Lorelei Dillenbeck (Lyndonville), to claim the narrow 25-23 win.

Keeping the momentum, the G-R scored a quicker 25-16 win in the second set highlighted by a run of 8 straight service points (5-12) by Maddie Durfee (Attica). Taylor Drummond (Wheatland-Chili) had 3 spiking kills and Dillenbeck 2 for the G-R in the set.

The N-O did get back in the match by taking the third set 25-20 as Makenna Elsenheimer (Roy-Hart) served up points 10-13 with 3 aces, Logan 15-17 on three aces, Hanna Roberts (Wilson) 19-20 on 2 aces and Kaylee Orr (Akron) 22-23. Samantha Albright (Roy-Hart) also had a big kill for point No. 24.

Rebounding, the G-R closed out the match by taking the fourth set 25-22 as Durfee had another key run of 8 straight service points (11-18). Kills by Dillenbeck, Meelanie Pohl (Alexander) and Taylor Moore (W-C) then helped to polish off three of the final five points.

The teams then played a “just for fun” fifth set which was won by the N-O 25-15 as Elsenheimer served up points 8-14 and Melissa Klinger (Newfane) points 20-24 on 3 aces and a pair of kills by Albright (Roy-Hart).

The G-R lineup also included Haley Shaffer from Lyndonville, Olivia Mercado from Attica, Tia Hoffarth from Holley, Carley Cerasani from Pembroke, Taigan Guerrero and Lauren Pilon from Kendall and Julia Yax from Alexander.

The N-O roster also included Emma Hoffer, Lauren Bax, Charlie Buscaglia and Reese Rutherford from Newfane, Maya Knaak from Albion, Lilah Frerichs from Wilson, Rachal Dugen from Akron and Alex Stern from Roy-Hart.

Holley’s Tia Hoffarth spikes over Wilson’s Lilah Frerichs.

Roy-Hart’s Alex Stern dives for a service return.

At left, Kendall’s Taigan Guerrero digs the ball out and at right her Kendall teammate Lauren Pilon returns a serve.