CHEEKTOWAGA, NY — It takes everything to be an underdog, however, everything just wasn’t enough for the Salamanca volleyball team.
Forcing Roy-Hart to a do-or-die fifth set in the Section 6 Class B2 finals, the embers of their heated playoff streak would finally cool, leaving them just one win shy of a title.
Finishing the regular season with a 5-13 record to earn the eighth seed, there would be no warm welcome for Salamanca into the playoffs. The first challenge at hand was to knock off top-seeded Olmsted in hostile territory, which the Warriors did via sweep before overcoming No. 5 Springville in five.
Then came a rematch from last year. In their lone playoff game of 2024, then playing in the Class C bracket, the Warriors saw Roy-Hart in the first round who promptly swept Salamanca out of the bracket. History repeated itself in the early goings, as the Rams tagged a first-set win over Salamanca at 25-9.
Gritting their teeth, the Warriors responded with two massive set wins by scores of 27-25 and 25-22. They fell back down to Earth in the fourth set, losing 25-11.
Salamanca fought tooth and nail with everything to play for, but ultimately fell short with the Bulls’ recording the final point of the match with a serve that just crept over the net that saw the Warriors fall 15-12 in the tie-breaker.
Makenzie Crouse led Salamanca with six kills. Alongside her, Liana Jimerson had nine assists, Joella Jimerson provided seven assists and Hadleigh Krug finished with 17 digs.
