By HUNTER O. LYLE
ALLEGANY, NY – When the Salamanca and Allegany-Limestone volleyball teams first met, it was an early-season slugfest, one that took all five sets to be determined. Flashforward exactly and the nextdoor neighbors were due for a rematch. However, this time, the outcome wouldn’t be as decisive.
Showcasing their growth and development in the time apart, the Warriors ultimately walked out of enemy territory at the end of the night with newfound redemption, besting the Gators in a clean-sheet sweep.
“I think our confidence has grown. We’re playing better together,” said Salamanca head coach Courtney Valent. “Our offense has improved, our serving has improved and I think that made the difference tonight.”
Before officially taking the hardwood, A-L had an order of business to take care of: honoring their six seniors who would be stepping out in front of their home fans for the last time of the regular season. Recognizing their veteran leadership – Danielle Dunkleman, Summer Rhow, Mya Hayes, Avery Gonzalez, Abigail Covert and Morgan Keith – head coach Tara Battone praised the crew’s commitment and attitude towards the Green and Black.
Ahead of their rematch with the Warriors, Allegany-Limestone recognized their six seniors. Pictured here is Avery Gonzalez (left to right), Summer Rhow, head coach Tara Battone, Danielle Dunkleman, Abby Covert, Morgan Keith and Mya Hayes. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle
“The seniors have always been amazing with their sportsmanship. They’re such great girls. They own their mistakes, they encourage each other, they’re great girls,” said Battone. “I couldn’t ask for a better group of girls that support each other. They’re just so positive all the time.”
After the festivities, the Gators turned their attention to the task before them, one that proved to be a challenge from the start.
Out of the gates, the initial set seemed to set up another back-and-forth clash destined to go the full distance. Trading points and kills back-and-forth, neither the Gators nor the Warriors managed to find an advantage, seeing any short-lived runs quickly be erased.
When A-L snuck out a four-point streak midway through, narrowly pulling ahead 17-14, Salamanca struck back with a 9-1 counter as their front line hitters sent barrages of slams over the net. The Gators then answered, knotting the game at 25-25, however, a costly missed hit and subsequent Salamanca serve which dribbled over the net put the Warriors in the drivers’ seat.
Needing to respond, the Gators willed their way alongside the Warriors in the second, weathering an early deficit to again deadlock the match at 14-14. Capitalizing on several Salamanca miscues, A-L managed to pull ahead 18-15, but ultimately left the door open for their opponents late in the set.
Taking over down by three, Salamanca’s Charli Rae Hill took the game in her own hands. Standing on the service line, she delivered six aces as the Warriors raced to the finish line, scrapping together a 25-19 victory on a 10-1 run.
“(Hill) doesn’t serve all the time. She’s working on a jump serve and it’s gotten a lot better,” said Valent. “Tonight was like a new high for her.”
Feeling the pressure built against them, A-L initially seemed ready to collapse. As Salamanca surged, the Gators saw another mountain rise up in front of them in the form of a 13-5 deficit.
However, led by their experienced seniors Rhow and Hayes, who executed both at the service line and at the net, the Gators clawed their way back into contention, striking up a 9-1 run that knotted the do-or-die third at 15-15.
“I just try to tell the girls to believe in themselves and not to get down,” said Battone. “We just have to keep using our mental strengths.”
But just as they were cresting the hump, A-L’s gas tank ran out. Seeing their own hitters power through the contests above the net, with Maelonee Bacelli and Hill coming away with thunderous spikes down the middle, Salamanca found one last retaliation, ending the night with a final burst that carried them to a 25-19 decisive sweep sealer.
“One thing we’ve been working on is to just keep going and not let other factors affect us,” said Valent. “That’s something we’ve really been trying to hammer in and see in games.”
As both teams stare down the final mileage of the season, the plan ahead is to erase the whiteboard and focus on what comes next. With four games left, the Warriors (5-6) next return home for a contest with Randolph while A-L will head out on the road for their final three contests, a trip that starts with West Valley/Franklinville (0-6).
“We just have to get over these bumps and keep moving forward. We have playoffs coming up and there’s nights where we play fantastic. Tonight, just everything was off,” said Battone. “We just have to move forward. The girls always give 100 percent and that’s all I can ask.”
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