Chautauqua Lake Rallies Past Candor In State Semifinals | News, Games, Jobs

Chautauqua Lake celebrates after scoring the winning point in a decisive fifth set in the Class D state semifinal against Candor of Section IV at Cool Insuring Arena on Saturday. PJ photo by Christian Storms

GLENS FALLS – Momentum is everything in volleyball.

After a big fall in the first game of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D semifinals against Section IV’s Candor, Chautauqua Lake rebounded in the second set to earn one loss in the season finale on Saturday. at night.

But all it took was one win.

Lake Chautauqua came out ready for the third set, jumped on Candor early, and never looked back. The Thunderbirds won, forcing a fourth set and it was a game from there.

The Thunderbirds came back from down 2-0, winning a season-high three sets 23-25, 12-25, 25-17, 25-14, 15-12, to advance to the Class D state final in Cool. To ensure the Arena on Sunday.

Lake Chautauqua is running down the stretch after advancing to the Class D state final. PJ photo by Christian Storms

“I just reminded them to remember who they are,” Chautauqua Lake head coach Joanne Meadows said of the comeback. “We’re not up and down as a team. Obviously, going into states they started with a big adrenaline rush and it wasn’t something we could handle. Coming off that loss took the wind out of our sails in the second set. It just took them a minute to remember who we are and not how we play.” . Resting and controlling our tempo on our side and playing the way we know we can play. Once they remember that and control their thoughts, it helped them a lot.”

From the start of the night it looked like Chautauqua Lake was the better team as they dominated the opening set, even jumping out to an 18-9 lead. But all it took was one big Candor chase to take the edge off.

Candor scored eight points in a row to pull within one point of Lake Chautauqua and even though the Thunderbirds took the lead, it seemed like a long time before Candor took the opening spot.

Chautauqua Lake came close to winning the first set, then in the blink of an eye went down 1-0 and it had a big impact on how the players performed in the second set.

Candor dominated the second set, with Lake Chautauqua scoring three straight points en route to a 25-12 victory.

Chautauqua Lake senior Ava Olson returns the ball over the net in the fifth set of the Class D state semifinal. PJ photo by Christian Storms

However, Chautauqua Lake ended the set with a three-point run, which served as a reminder that the Thunderbirds were in the game.

Restoring that confidence Chautauqua Lake dominated the entire third set, never doubting that the Thunderbirds would play in the fourth. Then like Chautauqua Lake, Candor hit slowly in the fourth quarter as they could not find anything in the 25-14 loss.

Just as it was time for Candor to come back and win the first set, it was only a matter of time before Chautauqua Lake completed the comeback. The Thunderbirds rebounded in the fifth to win 15-12, booking a date with Division II Lake George in the Class D championship Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

“We’re young,” Meadows said of his team. “We are not big, we will not control anyone with our height on the net. All we have is to play controlled volleyball and I think when they go back to controlling the ball then we will be in control. “

Ava Olson led the rebounding with 10 kills, two aces, 20 digs, 20 assists and two blocks; Brynn Engdahl had 11 kills, 11 digs and three aces; Karagan Fairbank had 14 assists, 12 digs and two kills; Bre Smith had six kills and four aces; Noli Paddock had seven kills, seven digs and two blocks; Makenna Smith produced eight digs and two aces; Alice Scarpine chipped in 17 digs and Jeanine Gulu added six kills.

Chautauqua Lake senior Brynn Engdahl hits the ball in the third set of the state semifinal against Candor on Saturday. PJ photo by Christian Storms

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