Pictured in the top row, from left, are Ruby Coleman, Savannah Terry, Michayla Jenkins, Kayla Snyder, Kim Lavender (MVP), Bella Coleman (all-tournament team), Brinn Shaughnessy, Sarah Kies and Paige Taylor; in the bottom row are Grace Thomas, McKenzie Hart, Makenna Kallin, Madison Delaney-Hammond (all-tournament team) and Summer Manville. (Photos provided by OA Schools)
Owego Free Academy’s varsity volleyball team reacts to their Class B state championship win on Nov. 22.
For the second time, the first being in 2013, Owego Free Academy’s varsity volleyball team brought home the Class B state championship. Winning this second championship on Nov. 22 at Glens Falls Civic Center, in which they defeated the John Glenn team from Long Island (3-1), the team was met at approximately 10:30 p.m. at the Tops parking lot in Owego for what Head Coach Brittney Race described as, “A ton of lights and a ton of noise….” as the Owego Fire Department, Apalachin Fire Department, a State Trooper, and others escorted the team back home.
This win marked a perfect ending for the Owego Indians as they finished 19-0 for the season. For Coach Race, she described the entire experience with three words, “It was awesome.”
Race also noted, that it’s a lot of work. With 14 team members, the regular volleyball season begins practice in mid-August, with regular games taking place when school commences.
This is the fifth year that Race has coached the varsity team, so now, with two state championships under her own belt, there is much to be proud of.
Race explained that the regular team consists of five seniors, four juniors, and one sophomore. This, she noted, is her regular team that played most of the season.
When the junior varsity season ended in October, Race brought in two freshmen and two more sophomores to round out the team.
Of the team members, senior Kim Lavender was named Class B’s tournament MVP; Bella Coleman and Madison Delaney-Hammond were named to the all-tournament team on Sunday.
Race described the excitement of the team, to go as far as to say they were “beyond excited” to capture the state title.
With their tallest player towering at approximately 6-feet tall, as well as a couple of other members who are 5-feet 11-inches and under, the coach felt they had a strong team, and those where are 5-feet two-inches and taller did equally as well.
“Height is important, but those who weren’t as tall did great, too,” said Race. “We had a good year.”
Congratulations to team members Ruby Coleman, Savannah Terry, Michayla Jenkins, Kayla Snyder, Kim Lavender, Bella Coleman, Brinn Shaughnessy, Sarah Kies, Paige Taylor, Grace Thomas, McKenzie Hart, Makenna Kallin, Madison Delaney-Hammond and Summer Manville.
Congratulations, as well, to Coach Race and assistant coaches Breanna Horton, Pam Horton and Erica Darpino.
Congratulations is also extended to the Girls’ Varsity Swim Team, which placed fourth in the State competition; and to the Tioga Junior Girls’ Varsity Team who also made it to the State competition to compete.
