Fairport outlasts Webster for boys volleyball crown, Spencerport win Class B crossover
Being undefeated was never Fairport's goal.
Coach John O'Dell called his Red Raiders' 19-0 record a "fun, secondary attribute" to their ultimate goal: winning a Section V boys volleyball championship.
In a rematch of the 2022 Class A final, Webster pounced on Fairport with a 2-1 lead. It was a "shock to the system", but a few adjustments later and Jack Bones' Fairport team clawed its way back to defeat the Lakers 3-2 Saturday night at Finger Lakes Community College.
This season was dreamt by Fairport's seniors years ago. O'Dell applauded his strong senior class for their leadership and realizing their long term goals.
"This year we just had strong senior leadership," said O'Dell, who's guided Fairport to three total Section V titles. "During tough games (like Saturday's final), when you have a good group of seniors staying positive, that brings out the best in the team."
Spencerport will join Fairport in regionals. The Class B1 Rangers qualified by beating Class B2 champion Midlakes in straight sets Saturday.
What it means
Class A
O'Dell joked about how Fairport's Section V titles come in five years cycles. The Red Raiders' other two section titles came in 2018 and 2013. Both teams won state championships. Fairport will enter regionals 19-0 and ranked No. 1 on the New York Volleyball Coaches Association's Division I poll.
Webster coach Greg Kennedy's Lakers ended the season 18-4. Webster won its first championship in 26 years last season and were a few points away from repeating. The Lakers were the first team to take a set from Fairport since Sept. 18.
Class B
Spencerport coach Aaron Austin's Class B1 champion Rangers will return to regionals after a straight sets win over Class B2 champion Midlakes. The four-time Section V champs are seeking state finals berth for a third straight season. Spencerport is ranked No. 3 on the NYVCA Division II poll.
Midlakes coach Kyle Salisbury's Screaming Eagles fell to 12-10.
Top players
Class A
Jack Bones
Fairport's senior outside hitter put down 19 kills, four aces and 12 digs on his way to tournament MVP honors.
Jacob Grams
Webster's senior middle made the all-tournament team. He had 13 kills and caused trouble for Fairport's front line.
Class B
Brody Jackson
Spencerport's junior outside hitter put down 17 kills and had seven digs.
Unsung heroes
Class A
Andrew Howe
Fairport's senior setter made all-tournament team with 33 assists and eight digs.
Joey Preische
Webster's senior outside hitter made the all-tournament team with 14 kills and 10 digs.
Aidan White
Fairport's senior outside hitter made the all-tournament team with 20 kills, three aces and three blocks.
Class B
Shaun Cannon
Spencerport's senior setter had 14 assists and a dig.
Turning point
Junior Jacob McCue stepped up when Fairport needed him most. A reserve middle, McCue entered the match after Webster took a 2-1 lead to provide better front row defense. McCue's size and technique challenged Webster's attack.
The plan worked. McCue was the "awakening" of Fairport's blocking. He had three blocks in the fourth set alone. The Red Raiders led the fifth set 13-12 before securing consecutive blocks for the last two points for escape with the Class A brick.
O'Dell also switched to a 5-1 rotation when Webster took its 2-1 lead.
Fairport's volleyball families
Fairport's girls volleyball team didn't spend much time celebrating their Section V championship at Victor High School. They had exactly 32 minutes from match point of their game to make the 25-minute trek to FLCC for Fairport's boys team's final.
There are four sets of siblings between Fairport's girls and boys volleyball teams: Kiera and Adam Cornman, Mila and Jack Bones, Avery and Andrew Howe, and Delaney and Liam Yusko.
The girls and boys team are both Section V champs, have a combined 37-0 record, and are ranked No. 1 in the state. Fairport's volleyball teams also share similar goals. The next one is to win states.
"I don't think people realize how special this is," O'Dell said.
Class A all-tournament
Fairport's Jack Bones (MVP), Aidan White, Andrew Howe; Webster's Bodey Groff and Joey Preische; Penfield Lawson Drabik, McQuaid's Luke Zimmermann.
What's next
Fairport and Spencerport will advance to the NYSPHSAA Far West Regionals Saturday, Nov. 11 at Kenmore West High School. The region finals against Section VI's champions are slated for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Spencerport will play the winner of Tuesday's West Seneca West-Hamburg match in the Division II region final. Fairport awaits Thursday's Orchard Park-Clarence winner to clinch a Division I regionals berth.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V boys volleyball tournament: Fairport, Spencerport advance
