SCHOHARIE – The Purple Tornado volleyball squad rolled into Schoharie on Saturday, only to play their way into a first-place finish against their Section II opponents.

The fourteen teams present at the Schoharie Breast Cancer tournament – Canajoharie, Averill Park, Duanesburg, Taconic Hills, Greenville, Loudenville Christian, Scotia, Schoharie, Lansingburgh, Gloversville, Fort Plain, Cobleskill, Unatego, and Norwich – not only played a solid day of volleyball, with Norwich playing in six match-ups, but the teams combined to help raise a total of $2200.

On the day, Norwich recorded 40 aces and nearly 100 kills as a team. Norwich’s Leahanne Humphrey was also voted to the Most Valuable team.

Norwich’s eventual first-place team ripped through their pool play, going 8-1 against their three opponents. The lady Tornado downed Fort Plain in three sets at 25-12, 25-11, 25-11; beat Cobleskill in three sets at 25-11, 25-18, and losing once at 18-25; and defeated Unatego at 25-14, 25-19, and 25-12.

Advancing to the semifinals, Norwich played similar match-ups, defeating Duanesburg at 25-19 – and toppling Loudenville Christian at 25-20.

The lady Tornado stood face-to-face with Averill Park, a Division A team in the finals – only to rise to the occasion and play some of their finest volleyball to-date, with a 25-15 first set win, followed by a 25-14 win in the final set.

“Great tournament, it was a privilege to play a division A school like Averill Park, such talent,” said Norwich head coach Shelly Alger.