IAC VOLLEYBALL: CANDOR TOPPLES NEWARK VALLEY IN BATTLE OF DIVISION CHAMPIONS (2020-04-15)

BY TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
CANDOR — Candor and Newark Valley warmed up for Saturday's IAC championship matches by squaring off against one another here Thursday evening.

The South Small School champion Indians displayed the form which has brought them three consecutive division titles — not to mention a state championship — as they swept the two-time defending South Large School queen Cardinals, 3-0. Game scores were 25-7, 25-13 and 25-9.

"Heading into the end of the season, I think it's just nice to play at that level and just have a lot of people contribute," Candor coach Pam Quinlan said. "I think that's what makes the team what it is, is that everybody comes and whether it's passing, or serving, or digging up a ball on D, or putting a good ball down on attack, it's just a nice well-rounded group."

Candor plays the game with a level of talent, and at a speed which NV doesn't see in its division.

"That's why we wanted to pick up a game with Candor, because we knew that they would be the toughest competition," NV coach Kelsey O'Donnell said. "They were the better team. We did not play bad. That's the fastest volleyball we've had to play and some of the best competition. They literally hit line on every point and they deserved to win, but I'm glad we got it right before Saturday so we would be better prepared for the IACs."

"I'm not disappointed. We did our best."

"The coaches were appreciative that they were able to play us and be able to see that kind of speed, and play against a team that challenged them, because I think she felt the same way, that she just wanted her girls to have to play some hard volleyball," Quinlan added.

The opening set was deadlocked at seven when Candor stepped it up a notch to score the final 18 points with Megan Henry at the service line.

The Indians would also scored the first three points of the second set. They were leading, 14-8, before pulling away on the strength of a pair of Asia Curkendall aces which were followed by another ace from Shelby Swartz.

Newark Valley would lead by two three times early in the third set, but Candor, down 5-3, battled back with a 9-point run behind strong serving from Henry.

Emma Graves ended the run with a nice side out shot to the middle of the Indian defense, but NV was unable to capitalize and Candor rode an ace by Kiera Heidl and five aces from Swartz to the win.

Henry finished the night with 25 service points, including 10 aces, six kills, one assist block, and six digs; Swartz had 11 service points, eight aces, seven kills, one assist block, and three digs; Curkendall contributed three service points, two aces, eight kills, and three digs; Braelyn Hornick chipped in with five service points, 23 assists, and two assist blocks; Isabel Makie notched five kill; Brayden Watkins had four service points and four kills; and Addie Aman added three digs.

For Newark Valley, Gracie Gardner posted two kills and one block; Makana Gardner had one ace, one block; Jasmine Graham pitched in with one kill; Emma Graves recorded two aces, one assist, seven kills, and eight digs; Katie Greene had six digs; Jenna Hanson tacked on five digs and Allie Wandell added seven assists and seven digs.

On Saturday, Candor (9-1, 8-0 IAC) hosts Moravia for the IAC Small School title while Newark Valley (9-1, 9-1 IAC) hosts Trumansburg in a rematch for the IAC Large School crown.

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IN PHOTO 1: Candor's Megan Henry (14), and NV's Allie Wandell (3) and Gracie Gardner. ... PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.