S-GI girls clinch JV volleyball division championship

SPRINGVILLE — The Springville-Griffith Institute junior varsity girls volleyball team saw its 10-game winning streak snapped on Oct. 9, but won their next three games, to improve to 16 – 2 on the year.

Springville clinched first place in its division, with one game remaining. On Oct. 11, at home against Depew, Springville secured another 3 – 0 sweep, thanks to Jenna Schunke’s serving.

“As the game wore on, the ladies depended on the excellent net play of Jessica Weide and Kayla Kessler,” said Robert Gainey, the team’s coach. The final score was 25 – 19.

Game two started close, but Madi Hauth helped the girls extend their lead, with what her coach called “incredible hustle plays.” Springville won that game 25 – 18. In game three, the girls trailed 24 – 16, but won 26 – 24, thanks to 8 unanswered points. Sara Kwiatkowski scored repeatedly in game three, to get the win.

The next night, Springville hosted Mount Mercy in another sweep. Each game was won by 9 or more points, in what Gainey called a “dominating performance.”

Game one featured “outstanding” serving from Kessler and ended 25 – 14 in favor of the home team. “In game two, the ladies won the battle at the net, largely due to the performances of Weide and Caelynn Jaehn,” Gainey said.

The girls went up 2 – 0 in the match, with that 25 – 15 victory. Serving from Kwiatkowski and “solid hustle play” from Tiffany Paciorowski secured a 25 – 16 for a 3 – 0 final after three games, giving the 15 – 2 team a chance to nab the league championship.

The clinching game was held on Oct. 15 in East Aurora, against the Blue Devils. “The ladies controlled the first game,” Gainey said.

That game went in favor of Springville 25 – 18. Gainey credited Schunke’s “smart play” in game one. During game two, Schunke sent off multiple serves in a row, to put her team ahead.

Springville went up 2 – 0, with a 25 – 16 victory. Gainey pointed out the “quality overall play” of Kessler in that contest, as the Griffins were on their way to a championship.

“Even though the ladies dropped game three, they showed tremendous resilience, coming back from a 23 – 16 deficit,” said Gainey, after the match.

Game three went 26 – 24 in favor of East Aurora. Regardless of the loss in the final game, the team won 2 – 1 and moved into first place.

Springville’s last game of the season will be played on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at home against Olean. That game will begin at 4:30 p.m.