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SARATOGA SPRINGS – Ichabod Crane owned the past two Section 2 Class B girls' volleyball championships, but for Riders to secure a three-peat, they needed to battle through intense pressure they had not often experienced in sectional play.
In Saturday's Class B championship, top-seeded Ichabod Crane was pushed to five sets by No. 2 Voorheesville, but the Riders dominated the deciding set and claimed a third consecutive title with a 25-20, 18-25, 25-23, 30-28, 15-3 thrilling win at Saratoga Springs High School.
"I am insanely proud of every single one of these girls," Ichabod Crane senior outside hitter Torri Cutler said. "I know that everyone was stressed and felt the pressure of this game because we've never played such a close sectional game in our (careers). Voorheesville is such a good team. I'm so glad we got to play them because it just helps us when we get to regionals or maybe even states. We know what this pressure feels like."
"This group was my first group that I ever coached," said Riders first-year coach Dell Potts. "I got to coach them first in JV and then I got to travel up with them to varsity, so I just feel so proud to see how far each and every one of them has come and how much they deserve this."
Key moment
The teams found themselves even at 3-3 early in the fifth set, but the Riders grabbed the lead back for good when senior Ali Cox made a terrific set to Cutler, who delivered a monster kill for a 4-3 lead. The Blackbirds did not score the rest of the way.
"Every time I go and I'm calling the ball and I see my setter, I just know that when the ball comes to me, I need to do something with it," Cutler said. "When (Cox) came to that set and I saw there were no blockers and I swung, I was just so happy that I was able to get that really big kill."
Star of the game
Cutler ended her final match in Section 2 play with 19 kills, including a pair in the deciding set, and three aces.
"She is so strong and powerful, and people are so intimidated by her," Potts said. "When we are getting her a great ball, we have a great pass and a great set to her, she is going to finish. It's impressive every single time. When she makes the right choices, she's on it."
Numbers to know
19:Assists dished out by the Ichabod Crane duo of Cox and senior Skylar Konkle.
14: Digs posted by senior libero Kayte Flint.
5:Blocks made by junior Ariana Henry.
What's next
Ichabod Crane:The Riders (14-5) will meet Section 7 champion Beekmantown in a regional final at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14 at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School.
Voorheesville:The Blackbirds ended an impressive campaign with a 15-4 record.
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This article originally published at Ichabod Crane girls' volleyball pushed to fifth set, but wins 3rd straight Class B title.
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ichabod-crane-girls-volleyball-pushed-120000636.html
