The Fredonia Lady ‘Billies girls volleyball team celebrates after a thrilling five-set victory in the Section VI, Class C1 playoffs against Royalton-Hartland. Submitted Photo.

OBSERVER Staff Reports

MIDDLEPORT — Fredonia High School has a long, storied history of thrilling playoff moments to its credit. Friday, that long list got a little bit longer.

The Fredonia Lady ‘Billies won a thrilling five-set match against Royalton-Hartland on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Section VI, Class C1 girls volleyball playoffs at Royalton-Hartland High School. The final scores were 25-23, 23-25, 20-25, 25-22 and 25-21.

“It was a very tight match,” said Fredonia coach Amanda Krakowiak of the match, which had a final score of each of the five sets within five points in every set. “The girls played with tremendous heart. You could tell they really, really wanted it.”

Down two sets to one, Fredonia (10-7, 5-seed) relied on its only senior, Nagely Vazquez, to step up as a leader to keep the Lady Billies’ season alive. She did so in the fourth set, helping Fredonia force the deciding fifth set, which the Lady ‘Billies won to claim the match and move on in the bracket.

“She really stepped up as a leader tonight,” said Krakowiak on Friday. “She did a great job motivating her teammates. … She won the fourth set for us and kept us alive.”

Vazquez finished with nine kills, six aces and two blocks. Rhayna Myers also had six aces, along with 10 kills. Anna Valone had nine kills, two aces and 13 digs, while Becca Piede had 25 assists for the Lady ‘Billies.

Fredonia moves on to face the No. 1 seed in the Class C1 bracket, Akron, on Monday at 6 p.m. at Akron High School.

“We’re going to keep our energy up and stay positive,” said Krakowiak in anticipation of the match. The winner will head to Jamestown Community College on Wednesday for the Class C1 Sectional title game.

Gowanda 3, Tapestry 0

GOWANDA — The Gowanda Lady Panthers made quick work of Tapestry in an opening round girls volleyball playoff game at Gowanda High School. Gowanda won in three sets, 25-9, 25-6 and 25-13.

Gowanda (16-3, 4-seed) moves on to face Allegany-Limestone (12-6, 8-seed) on Monday at Gowanda High School. Allegany-Limestone upset the No. 1 seed, Leonardo Da Vinci High School, on Friday in three sets. Monday’s game will begin at 6 p.m.

Maple Grove 3, Silver Creek 0

BEMUS POINT — The Maple Grove Red Dragons put an end to the Silver Creek Black Knights’ season in the first round of the Section VI, Class D1 girls volleyball playoffs in three sets. The scores were 25-15, 25-9 and 25-10 in favor of the Red Dragons.

Maple Grove (8-7, 4-seed) was led by Bre Hill with 15 kills, 11 aces and a block. Erin Mansfield added 12 assists, four aces and two kills, while Kelsey Tarbrake had 10 digs and an ace.

Silver Creek (6-11, 5-seed) sees its season come to an end, while Maple Grove advances to play at Randolph on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Randolph 3, Westfield 0

RANDOLPH — The Westfield Lady Wolverines, in the program’s first year back in Westfield after being combined with Brocton, made the Class D1 Sectional playoffs as the No. 8 seed. On Friday, however, the Lady Wolverines learned that postseason success will have to wait at least another year.

The Lady Wolverines were swept in three sets against the top-ranked Randolph Lady Cardinals on Friday at Randolph High School. The scores were 25-8, 25-8 and 25-15 in favor of the Lady Cardinals.

Randolph (16-3, 1-seed) had Brynn Pagett contribute five kills and three aces on Friday, while Jillian Stahley had nine kills, two aces and a block. Eve Adams had five aces and four assists, while Sydney Hvizdzak added four kills and an ace. Mya Abrams and Ella Conley each had six assists, while Alyssa Adams four kills.

Randolph moves forward in the bracket to host Maple Grove on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Randolph High School. Westfield’s season concludes with a 2-17 record.