SECTION IV VOLLEYBALL: CANDOR BATTLES PAST B-G TO WIN CLASS D (24 PHOTOS) (2019-11-09)

BY TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
CORNING — The only two back-to-back state champions in Section IV volleyball history clashed here Saturday to decide who would represent the section in the 30th annual state tournament.

It took five grueling sets to determine a victor, but when the dust settled, unbeaten and top-seeded Candor had dethroned two-time defending state champion Bainbridge-Guilford, 3-2.

The Indians won the second, third and fifth sets by 25-14, 28-26 and 25-20 scores while the Bobcats took the opening game, 25-20, and the fourth set, 25-23.

"I knew it was going to be a battle," Candor head coach Pam Quinlan said. "Bainbridge-Guilford's been there before and I knew that they were going to come out after Thursday night just being on fire and I knew that we were going to have to work hard for every point and we did."

Candor, which won state titles in 2002 and 2003, led from start to finish in the decisive fifth game, but had to battle to put B-G away.

The Indians scored the first three points and built a 5-1 advantage to force a Bobcat timeout. It didn't help much as Candor fluffed up the cushion, building a 14-4 gap.

B-G wasn't about to give up the throne easily and, following another timeout, fought back. The Bobcats trimmed the margin to six points on three occasions, the last closing the gap to 24-18. But they weren't done, and would close within 24-20 before the Indians finally closed the door.

Bainbridge was looking to take advantage of its championship experience vs. the Indians, but found itself in a back-and-forth battle in the opening game. Despite what appeared to be early jitters, Candor hung tough before B-G gradually created some space, building three 4-point leads before making it 24-18 late in the game. The Indians made one last-ditch attempt, cutting the edge to 24-20 before B-G ended the game.

Game two, for the most part, belonged to the blue and white. Candor scored the first three points, then built 5-point margins five times before increasing its command to 20-10 behind a 5-point run. B-G never got closer than nine down the stretch.

The third set saw the Bobcats grab the early lead, but could never build a margin greater than four points. Candor would pick up its first lead, 13-12, when Shelby Swartz drilled an ace just inside the back line. Her next serve was similar, but was too long, then the Indians went ahead to stay, 14-13, when B-G was called for a carry to start a 4-0 burst and gave the Indians a little breathing room. The Bobcats cut the lead to two three times down the stretch, but Candor would keep turning them back to grab the upper hand.

The Indians looked like they might end the match in when they jumped out to an 8-4 lead in game four, but B-G wasn't about to make things easy. The Bobcats tied the game at 10 and 11, but Candor would build a 15-12 lead. Unfortunately for the Indians, they couldn't extend their advantage and B-G battled back to take a 21-20 edge. Candor would knot the score at 21, 22 and 23, but B-G scored the last two points.

"I thought we had a pretty decent lead in that game and they just whittled away at it," Quinlan said. "We haven't really had to go four or five games this season, so I think maybe we were a little tired. I noticed our legs weren't quite where we needed to be and I think we were still trying to play like we were fresh and I think in the fifth set we kind of adjusted to that a little bit. I think my setter put the sets a little higher to give the hitters a little bit more time and I think they adjusted their swings a little bit more."

Candor's communication, one of its strong points, seemed to be a little off at various points during the possibly due to an atmosphere this team hasn't played in before.

"That's been one of our strengths, so I think we'll talk about that and address that. I don't know, maybe it was a little bit different setting for some of the kids, so I think there's a little nerves and they don't want to get in anybody else's way."

Like most good teams, Candor looked to its veterans for leadership and performance on the court. Jennah Kareem posted a triple-double with 13 service points, 12 kills,10 digs and three block assists; as did Braelyn Hornick. She dished out 47 assists to go with 12 service points and 12 digs.

Megan Henry had a solid performance with 14 kills and 10 service points, including two aces, as well as two block assists; Selah Ray was strong at the net with 13 kills, two blocks and three block assists; as was Shelby Swartz with 10 kills and 12 digs, seven service points, to include two aces, and two block assists,



Kailyn Edwards contributed to the victory with eight service points, to include two aces, and 11 digs; as did Asia Curkendall with seven digs.

Candor (20-0) will visit Jamesville-DeWitt (15-2out of Section III Saturday for a regional contest.

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IN PHOTO 1: Candor's Kailyn Edwards digging. ... PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.