NYS VOLLEYBALL: OWEGO MAKES FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND APPEARANCE SINCE 2018 (2024-11-22)
By TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
GLENS FALLS — Owego had a run of five championship matches in six years, winning titles in 2013, 2015 and 2017, and placing second in 2016 and 2018, then hit an NYSPHSAA semifinal drought. That all ended last weekend when the River Hawks swept Massena to win their first regional title in six years.
Owego fell short in three previous regional rounds, falling to Ardsley in 2019, Hendrick Hudson in 2021 and Byram Hills in 2023. Ardsley and Hen Hud went on to place second in the state. There was no postseason in 2020 due to COVID-19 and Owego was the Section IV Class B runner-up in 2022.
This year’s field will feature the 19-0 River Hawks, the only unbeaten and unranked team in the Final 4, top-ranked Burnt Hills-Balston Lake (20-3), second-ranked Pittsford Sutherland (22-3) and eighth-ranked Sayville (20-2).
Owego boasts a highly-talented veteran roster which is loaded with postseason experience. Coach Abbey Manning hopes that will be a plus despite the fact this group has no Final 4 appearances and faces a grueling challenge to get to the finals.
“We definitely have some tough competition,” she said. “And like throughout our season seeing a team that's tall and then can just put volleyballs away is not really something that we're used to. I would say, after watching some film of Sayville, Pittsford Sutherland and Burnt Hills, they definitely have it all together.
“I'm excited to see what my team can do, but I'm also sometimes nervous about it because of the teams we play throughout the season.”
The River Hawks don’t see a lot of tough competition in Section IV due to the low number of strong programs, especially at the higher classifications.
Owego had just two matches go the full five sets this season and those came in the STAC tournament against Vestal and Corning. In match play, the River Hawks have won 57 out of 67 sets.
“Those are the best teams we really saw all year with Windsor and Oneonta, because they gave us a run too,” Manning said. “These (Final 4 opponents) are schools that have competition really all year.
“Albany area, they're big into club. All those girls play club. Luckily, I have a team that a majority of them play club and that definitely helps our section too, but Sayville’s from Long Island. I know they're at an athletic school. I know they want to come out for blood too. The same with Pittsburgh Sutherland, Section IV Rochester, another area where they live, breathe and play volleyball.
“I know these girls can compete with any of those teams,” Manning added. “We just have to show up. We've been talking about our energy all week, especially since sectional play. We're going to make mistakes, and we have to somehow get past those mistakes because we don't want to dwell on them and dig ourselves into a deeper hole. Sometimes we struggle with that, even against not-so-great teams. Going against a team that is much better than what we're used to seeing, we can't have those moments.
“We’ve got to be able to go to the next match. We can have one bad set, but we have to be able to get past that, because even if we beat a team, if we split with everyone, that still gives us a pretty good chance to make it to Sunday.”
“I think it’s a really great opportunity for us,” said senior Shannon Maslin. “We have been there before, a few years back, but I think it’s going to be great to go again. Coach Manning was actually on one of the teams that won there, so I think she’ll lead us to another good title.”
Senior Kayla Newman is pumped for the opportunity to compete for a state title.
“I've never been more ready,” she said. “I'm very excited.”
Winning regionals brought that excitement to a high for the River Hawks, but Newman knows there’s still work to be done.
“I think a lot of us at regionals, we were excited that we were going to states, but I think we all had a similar mentality of the job's not finished, so I think the fact that we get to go to states is just an incredible opportunity,” she said. “For a lot of us, it might be the only time we're ever going to get to do this for our sport and I genuinely think we have a really strong shot at taking states, and I think that's something that's incredible.”
Moving past the regional final was a major accomplishment for the River Hawks.
“There was a big sigh, because being able to just finish out a game all the way and just secure the way to states, I think was huge for us,” Newman said.
“I think it was very exhilarating for all of us,” Maslin added. “It’s kind of like, oh my gosh, we’re actually going to states. It’s a really good opportunity. Some would even say, once in a lifetime, I’m never going to states again. The juniors can next year, but I think it’s just a really great opportunity for all of us, and we’ll just kind of take it as it is and try our best, and hopefully with the outcome of a win and a state title.”
Newman has high expectations for the Final 4 weekend.
“I expect a lot out of myself, I think, but most of anything that I expect out of myself is to bring a lot of energy, and to be able to support and uplift my teammates,” she said. “I think I expect the rest of my teammates to do the same thing and I expect us all to have to show up.
“We have to show up, and we have to want it more than anyone else there, because they're all there because they're strong, they're the best in the state, and I think the team who wants it more is going to win, and I expect all of us to want to win.”
Maslin also realizes how tough the competition will be and what it will take to come away with the title.
“I think we’re really going to continue working hard, have good communication and just fire on all cylinders, because if we don’t all the other teams are,” she said. “Obviously, they’re all great teams. They’ve all made it to state, but that doesn’t mean we can’t compete with them. We just have to put our all into it.”
All of the teams have been here before with Owego, Burnt Hills and PIttsford Sutherland all winning championships. Burnt Hills has played for the title 16 times, winning nine. Pittsford hasn’t reached the since 2014, but is 3-1 when it does.
Owego opens pool play Saturday at Cool Insuring Arena at 8 a.m. against Sayville, then faces Burnt Hills in the third match and Pittsford in the fifth. The championship match takes place Sunday at 9 a.m.
Manning likes the early start times.
“I think it will be good for us to play in the morning,” she said. “We're the first match, and I know they're going to wake up Saturday morning at like 6 a.m. and be stoked. I think that will be a benefit for us and a positive thing. Being able to just get up, get on the bus and go to the civic center, I think hopefully will be a positive for us.”
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IN PHOTOS: Three-time STAC Central/East All-Conference all-star Maggie Hamed & the NYSPHSAA regional champion River Hawks. ... TCSR STOCK PHOTOS.
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