NYSPHSAA VOLLEYBALL: CANDOR WINS POOL PLAY, FACES YORK IN CLASS D FINALS (November 22, 2025)

By TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
GLENS FALLS — Candor wrapped up pool play by splitting a pair of games with Weedsport, giving the Coyotes the top spot in Class D at the NYSPHSAA Volleyball Championship at Harding Mazzotti Arena here Saturday afternoon.

Candor won the opening set, 25-20, then dropped the second set, 27-25. Since the match did not have an effect on determining who would compete for the championship, the teams did not play a tie-breaker game. That left the Coyotes with a 2-0-1 pool play record with pre-tournament favorite York second at 2-1. Mekeel Christian Academy finished 1-2 and Weedsport was 0-2-1.

Candor was aware it had reached the finals before taking the court against Weedsport.

“I think sometimes that plays into the mental part of the game,” said coach Pam Quinlan. “I think Weedsport was scrappy and then there were times that we just weren't taking care of the ball and we were just sloppy, a lot of unforced errors.

“Hopefully we can come in tomorrow with just a little bit more energy. We sat for a bit, but that's not any excuse.”

The Coyotes rode a 6-point burst to an 8-1 lead in game one and never trailed. Weedsport would pull within three on several occasions, but could get no closer.

The Wolverines trailed early in game two, 6-4, but battled back to take a 10-6 advantage behind the play of Megan House and Chelsea Foltz, but Candor rallied behind some key plays by seniors Hazel Ray and Ava Fernando, and junior Emmi Makie to chop the score to 10-9.

The Coyotes stayed within two for several minutes, with the exception of a 15-12 deficit, and eventually knotted things up at 16 apiece.

Weedsport surged ahead, but Candor came back again, tying the score at 19 on a Makie shot into the middle of the court. A four-point run from the Wolverines put the Coyotes in a 24-20 hole, only to have a rally push Candor back ahead, 25-24.

The defending champs couldn’t close out the set, however, and Weedsport came back for the 27-25 win.

Nicola Soper had 13 kills, six digs and five points; Makie contributed 15 points, including four aces, eight kills and four digs; and Malley Heidl handed out 22 assists.

Jill Teribury added nine points and three digs; Ray had four digs and one block assist; Montana Vorhis had two digs and two points; Fernando had a pair of block assists; Valeria Palaco Gil chipped in with one block assist.

Championship preview
York was ranked second in the state at the end of the regular season and was 22-1. The Golden Knights knocked off No. 1 Westfield in the regional finals.

Candor was 16-1 and ranked No. 5. The two will face off Sunday at 11:30 a.m. for all the marbles.

“We just need to be a lot cleaner tomorrow,” Quinlan said.

Tickets can be purchased at https://gofan.co/nysphsaa?activity=Volleyball&level=Varsity&gender=Girls. The tournament can also be streamed on nfhsnetwork.com for $13.99.

——————

IN PHOTO 1: Lydia Kunte. IN TOP PHOTO: Ashlan Heidl. … PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.

Print Friendly Version