UV, Oxford volleyball teams advance in Section IV playoffs

By Patrick Newell

Sun Sports Contributor

In Tuesday night's Section IV Class D volleyball tournament, Oxford and Unadilla Valley, who recently squared off in the MAC championship game, came away with quarterfinals playoffs victories.  The two clubs have semifinals matchups Thursday evening at Candor High School.

Unadilla Valley 3, Delhi 1

NEW BERLIN -  The number three-seeded Storm shook off a second set loss to Delhi to prevail in four sets over the Bulldogs, 25-15, 21-25, 25-16, 25-22.

"Delhi had some amazing blocks, but we were able to bring it back after a loss in the second set," said UV coach Amanda Ruggles "A terrific match was played by both teams."

Kate Conway provided balance in all areas for UV (12-2) finishing with 13 assists, 14 digs, and seven kills. Maddi Sayles added a team-high 18 digs to go with seven kills, and Gabby Cummings served a team-high five aces.

UV, Candor, Oxford, and Tioga meet in the pool play semifinals on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

Leaders

UV:  Maddi Sayles 18 digs, 7 kills; Kate Conway 7 kills, 13 assists, 14 digs; Gabby Cummings 5 aces; Melanie VanValen 4 aces, Hudson Lyons 9 assists; Shannon Kelly 4 assists; Erica Mumbulo 1 block.

Delhi:  Elianna Tarrants 4 aces; Vidva Samudrala 4 kills, 5 blocks; Izzy Tucker 10 digs, Julia Baxter 5 blocks. Abigail Kievit 5 assists.

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Oxford 3, Deposit-Hancock 2

OXFORD - Oxford, which was pushed to the five-set limit in the MAC playoffs two weeks, needed five sets to again upend the Eagles winning 26-24, 22-25, 25-18, 20-25, 25-22.

"This was an intense matchup between both teams that could have gone either way," said Oxford coach Kim Martin.   "Both teams played their hearts out and pushed to the end."

Madalyn Barrows led Oxford (11-2) with 13 kills, and senior Mallory Olsen-Nichols piled up 24 assists in the victory.

Quinnlin LaMonica added eight kills, Jaclyn Ruff served a team-best five aces, while Barrows and Anaiya Davis paced the defense with seven digs apiece.

Oxford moves on to the pool play semifinals, along with Tioga, Candor, and Unadilla Valley, at Candor on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

Leaders

Oxford:  Madalyn Barrows 13 kills, 4 aces, 7 digs; Ava Benjamin 4 digs; Anaiya Davis 7 digs; Tamera Hurlburt 6 digs, 6 kills, 4 aces; Quinnlin LaMonica 8 kills; Mallory Olsen-Nichols 24 assists, 4 kills, 3 aces; Hailey Richardson 5 kills; Jaclyn Ruff 5 aces.

Deposit-Hancock:  Kaitlyn Macumber 22 digs, 10 kills, 10 assists; Olivia Carey 6 kills; Emily Moore 18 digs, 10 assists, 6 aces; Izabela Litwinowicz 4 aces.