Johnstown Knocks Massena Out in N.Y.S. Quarterfinal

Johnstown’s Zara Hyde (6) responds to the offensive tip from
Janisa Benedict (11) by forcing the ball back over the net
for a point. The Section X Champion Massena Red
Raiders fell in three straight sets – 25-20, 25-13 and 25-12
– to Section II Champion Johnstown in the New York State
Class B quarterfinals at SUNY Canton. Annie Stock paced
Johnstown with 17 kills, while Jerica Holland generated 15
assists. Tristen Thomas offered 30 sets and seven assists,
while Benedict dealt five kills to lead the Red Raiders who
closed their title season at 15-4. (Casey Stephens
photo)
Match Gallery
AFTER SPLITTING FIRST SETS, HARTFORD TOPS BULLDOGS
HARTFORD 3, CHATEAUGAY 1
After splitting the first two sets, Section II’s Hartford
outlasted Section X’s Chateaugay 25-18 in the pivotal third
set before going on to beat the Bulldogs 3-1 in the New York
State Class D quarterfinals at SUNY Canton. The Tanagers won
13-25, 25-12, 25-18, 25-6. Gwen Harsha led Hartford with 17
points and 12 kills while Morgan Wicks chipped in eight
points. For Chateaugay (17-2), Carolyn Stumpf scored 12
points and Caitlin Miller powered 15 kills.
MASSENA TOPS SALMON RIVER IN OVERALL SEMIFINAL 3-0

Salmon River’s Wakie Mitchell (17) goes up for the hit while
Massena’s Janisa Benedict (11) attempts the block. Massena
swept Salmon River 3-0 in the Section X Overall Semifinal,
then returned to sweep previously-unbeaten Chateaugay for
the Section X Girls volleyball championship, held Thursday
at SUNY Canton. (Eric Foote photo)
Match Gallery
Volleyball Awards

Massena’s Krista Logan (24) hammers the ball for the kill on
Salmon River’s Nicole Smoke (13).
MASSENA 3, SALMON RIVER 0 (Semifinal)
MASSENA 3, CHATEAUGAY 0 (Championship)
Second-seeded Massena downed #3-seed Salmon River 25-22,
25-15, 25-17 in the semifinal opener of a twinbill, then
following the annual volleyball awards ceremony,
completed a championship sweep of the Chateaugay
Bulldogs 26-24, 25-19, 25-21. Chateaugay tried to
stave off the upset with a first-set comeback that came
up short in the 26-24 loss, but then could never get a
foothold against the Raiders in Sets 2 and 3.
Massena took commanding leads in the final two sets,
capitalizing on Chateaugay’s struggles at the net and
uncharacteristic breakdowns in communication.
Massena’s surge through the playoffs was led by Tristan
Thomas who had 50 sets, 18 assists and 15 service
points. Janisa Benedict who racked up 25 kills and
13 service points in the two matches.