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Panama Advanced To Final With Tie-Breaker Win On Saturday

GLENS FALLS — Panama knew that Class D pool play at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association volleyball championships would make for a physically demanding Saturday inside Cool Insuring Arena, and in the end the Panthers got even more than they bargained for.

Not that anyone is complaining.

After dropping their first two matches of the day to Section IV Candor, the Panthers rebounded in their next meeting with Section II Galway with back-to-back wins.

Taking to the court after a short break for a win-or-go-home meeting with Section I Haldane, Panama prevailed 25-21, 29-31, and 25-18 in a crucial third-set tiebreaker to earn a spot in Sunday’s finals.

The Panthers then took on Candor, which went a perfect 6-0 in pool play, at noon for statewide bragging rights (see related story on Page B1).

After coming up just short in a 60-point second frame against Haldane, it was clear that Panama was not in the mood to go home. With elimination on the line, senior Natalie Angeletti stepped up to the service line and blasted her team out to an 8-0 lead, forcing a timeout from the Blue Devils.

“You could definitely tell that Nat didn’t want her season to end and that was great,” said Panama head coach Tammy Hosier. “Her defense was unbelievable today. She’s just a great all-around player. She adds so much to the team and keeping them together too and staying focused and positive.”

Kylie Schnars would extend that lead with a block and a one-handed push, while Angeletti would continue to show her versatility down the stretch. The Panama lead grew to 16-7 after Angeletti sprawled out for a one-handed save to keep a point alive before sealing things up with a block on defense. While the Blue Devils would come within five points late in the action, more effort up front by Schnars would lead Panama back to the finals, where the team has fallen to Section IV Bainbridge-Guilford each of the last two years. In order to flip that script, the Panthers will have to get by Candor, as the Indians prevailed with a 29-27, 25-22 win to begin their day.

“We honestly started out strong,” said Hosier. “Came out and took the lead and the girls were playing well. Candor is a good team. It was a great volleyball game. Unfortunately, we came out on the other end of it. There are some things we can work on and do better. Blocking was key and covering defense. We ended up playing too much defense in that game.”

The Panthers would see leads at 3-0 and 6-2 to start the day as Angeletti came out with a hot serving hand, while Marra Hovey showed some moxie early.

On the fifth point of the morning, Panama’s libero was forced to race to the back barricade for a desperation save to keep a point alive. Hovey would follow up that miracle with a serve that could not be returned to maintain the early momentum, and would continue to play some of her best volleyball of the year throughout the morning session.

“She stepped up and Marra did a great job getting to the balls and getting them to the setter,” said Hosier. “Marra is having a great day. We just need to keep her focused and playing well. That is key, having her back there.”

Three straight kills by Candor’s Megan Henry would bring things back to even at 10-10, but Panama would grab the lead back shortly after that with a spike by Ashlyn Harvey.

The Panthers’ hot start would continue with Schnars getting back into the rotation, picking up a spike on the left side and back-to-back blocks. In the end, Panama would just miss closing out the opener as Jenna Kareem picked up her game down the stretch for the Indians while Shelby Swartz finished things off with a hard-hit overhand.

Both teams would see ties early in the second set at 3-3, 4-4 and 6-6 before a spike from Henry, an ace by Asia Curkendall, and more work from Kareem lifted the Indians to a 13-8 lead. Maddie Johnson would do her best to rally Panama late, picking up a service ace and a dig on a hard-hit ball, but in the end a block and a kill by Selah Ray would give Candor its second win of the day.

“We definitely have to be running our offense. We don’t want to be playing defense against them because they have a lot of good hitters,” said Hosier. “We have to just get to where the ball is and watch the arm angles.”

Panama was forced to face some adversity on Saturday, with Mandy Brink being forced to leave the game against Candor after being struck with an overhand. The freshman opposite hitter would return in the afternoon, but in the meantime Panama would be treated to a nice surprise by her replacement. After going through her roster options, Hosier would settle on senior Jasmine Markham as a substitute for the recuperating Brink. That turned out to be the right choice.

Despite losing two close opening sets, the Panthers were able to refocus in their second meeting against Galway, sprinting out to a 15-9 lead behind the play of their usual suspects — Angeletti, Schnars and Alexis Finnerty. Johnson would pick up another dazzling defensive save in that first frame, while the second set against the Golden Eagles proved more difficult. After things came to even at 8-8, Galway would take a lead to 11-9 after a service ace by Hannah Hofmann. Back-to-back spikes from Schnars would rectify that, but Galway would once again go up 17-15 with a good serve by Jayden Devellis. Facing what would be their third loss of the day and likely a trip back to Western New York, Markham seized her chance. The senior stepped to the service line and promptly struck a hard ball that was not returned. She would hit similar balls from the back line on the next five points, ensuring that her team had a chance to return on Sunday.

Following the lead of Markham were Schnars and Harvey, as they both earned points on spikes while a service ace by Hovey would secure a 27-25 win over Galway after a 25-15 win in the first frame.

“That kind of set us in a tailspin,” Hosier said of losing Brink. “Jasmine Markham is doing a great job of stepping up. She is doing a great job. The rotation that Mandy serves in, that is a good rotation typically for us, but Jasmine coming off the bench did great job just staying focused, getting that ball over and getting us those points. She was critical.”

NOTES: In the opening match of the day against Candor, Johnson had 20 assists, six digs, five points and one ace; Angeletti seven digs, 12 kills, three points; Schnars nine kills; Brink 10 digs; and Ally Finnerty eight digs, five points and one ace. … Against Galway, Johnson grabbed nine digs, 21 assists, three kills, five points and one ace; Angeletti eight digs, 10 kills, three blocks, seven points and two aces; Schnars 11 kills and three blocks; Hovey 10 digs, four points and one ace; and Markham six digs, seven points and one ace. … In the final frame against Haldane, Johnson finished with eight digs, 25 assists; Angeletti 15 digs, 10 kills, 13 points and one ace; Schnars 13 kills and five blocks; Hovey 14 digs, 10 points and three aces; Brink 17 digs and two points; Alexis Finnerty five points and one ace; and Ally Finnerty nine digs, eight points and two aces.

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