Two section V boys volleyball teams compete for state titles: What to know

Section V has a pretty good track record at the boys volleyball state championship tournament.

Since 2010, there has been at least once state champion from Section V every year there was a tournament. That's until last fall, when Spencerport and Webster both lost their NYS finals matches.

With an unbeaten team on one end, and a program searching for a third straight finals appearance, Section V appears ready to return to the mountain to in Albany.

"If we play like we did today we have a pretty good chance," Spencerport coach Aaron Austin said after beating Section VI's West Seneca West in regionals. "We're pretty confident we can do it."

Here what you need to know about the NYSPHSAA championship tournament.

NYSPHSAA boys volleyball championships

• When: Pool play is 10 a.m. Saturday, finals are at 3 p.m. Saturday.

• Where: Albany Capital Center.

Division I: Fairport, Section XI's Center Moriches and reigning state champion Shenendehowa of Section II.

Coach John O'Dell's Red Raiders are 20-0 and ranked No. 1 in D-I. Shenendehowa is No. 2. Fairport won state titles in 2018 and 2013.

Division II: Spencerport, Section XI's Westhampton and reigning state champion Jamesville-DeWitt of Section III.

Spencerport (18-5) is very familiar with J-D — the state's No. 1 ranked D-II team. The Rangers lost to the Rams in the 2022 NYS final. Austin said J-D has two "solid" outside hitters who don't look for the big play. That's exactly how Austin envisions the state championship match — with a bunch of selfless players who knows that all the "little" points matter, like getting energy points, covering, and being more consistent.

Spencerport is ranked No. 3 in the state and in search of the program's first state championship.

"They know us. We know them," Austin said. I think it's going to be a match that might be more competitive than it was last year. Whoever has the hot hand might win that match."

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: NY state boys volleyball championships: 2 Section V teams compete