Facing the exact same team on the exact same stage, even with the same postseason seeding attached to each program, the result fittingly mirrored the prior contest in favor of Chautauqua Lake.

Lightning struck twice for Chautauqua Lake, as the 2-seed in the Class D playoffs once again defended home court to defeat the 6-seeded Clymer/Sherman Wolves.

The final score was 25-13, 25-23, 25-18 at Chautauqua Lake High School.

“My team played amazing tonight. I’m really proud of them,” said Chautauqua Lake senior setter Ava Olson.

Clymer-Sherman’s Alexys Neckers (33) returns the ball after a Chautauqua Lake serve during Monday’s Class D semifinal volleyball game against Chautauqua Lake. OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen

Fresh off an upset of 3-seed Cattaraugus-Little Valley on Friday, Clymer/Sherman was tasked with facing a Chautauqua Lake team that won both regular-season meetings between the two teams. In the regular season, Chautauqua Lake won six of the seven sets the two teams played.

The first set was a bit closer than the script from previous matches would have written. Clymer/Sherman scored five of the first seven points in the match, then the next six points were split evenly for an 8-5 lead for the visiting Wolves. But from that point, Chautauqua Lake (14-2) registered seven consecutive points for a 12-8 lead, including back-to-back aces from eighth-grader Noli Paddock to even the score.

“They are young, but they are starting to peak at the right time,” Chautauqua Lake coach Joanne Meadows said of her team. “They were real focused … and played pretty together. I was happy with the way they played in that first set.”

Clymer/Sherman called a timeout after the seventh consecutive Chautauqua Lake point, but the Wolves were unable to regroup when play resumed. Chautauqua Lake outscored 13-5 the rest of the first set for a 25-13 opening victory.

“That first one didn’t go as we wanted,” said Clymer/Sherman coach Frank Lewczyk. “We thought if we could get one of the first two sets, it would change things.”

Chautauqua Lake’s Karagan Fairbank (5) sets the ball for a teammate during Monday’s Class D semifinal volleyball game against the Clymer-Sherman Wolves at Chautauqua Lake Central School. OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen

Chautauqua Lake fell into another hole early in the second set, as Clymer/Sherman scored the game’s first six points. After the next six points were split evenly, Chautauqua Lake called a timeout, trailing 9-3.

But just as Clymer/Sherman scored nine of the first 12 points, Chautauqua Lake responded with the same, with the majority of the points coming with Karagan Fairbank on serve.

However, just as the set began, the reset after the score was evened went the same way. Clymer/Sherman scored six straight points for an 18-12 lead, with evening the scoreboard in the contest at one set apiece in sight.

“That second set was just out of this world. Both teams played just amazing,” Lewczyk said. “… That’s some of the best volleyball we’ve seen all year.”

With the set in jeopardy, Olson, Chautauqua Lake’s go-to senior, came up big in her final match on her home floor.

Clymer-Sherman’s Janelle Burchanowski (4) settles under the ball during a Class D semifinal volleyball game, Monday, at Chautauqua Lake High School. OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen

Down 19-15 coming out of a timeout, Olson regained the serve after Chautauqua Lake claimed a point. Olson led her team to seven straight points, six while she was on serve, to claim a 22-19 lead.

“Ava (Olson) had a great game. Whenever it gets a little sketchy, she’s the kid that I count on to pull us back out of that,” Meadows said.

Chautauqua Lake held off a Clymer/Sherman rally to finish with the final three points of the set for a narrow 25-23 victory and a 2-0 overall advantage.

“I think these girls are never counted out. I have confidence in them if we’re down 10 points, I think we can come back and win,” Meadows said.

Despite the tough fashion in which Clymer/Sherman lost the second set, the Wolves continued to claw at the favored hosts. The third set was as even as a set can be through its halfway point, as each team stayed within four points of the other.

But then, Olson did her thing again on serve. Behind back-to-back aces, Chautauqua Lake’s lead was extended to 18-13.

“In those cases, it’s really just our lapses where we just need a couple points to get our heads back in it to control it and settle it down,” Olson said. “… Just that one little point and getting the serve back really changes the mindset of our team.”

After another point went in the hosts’ favor, Clymer-Sherman called timeout, trailing 19-13. At that point, it was too little, too late. Chautauqua Lake outscored Clymer-Sherman 6-5 to finish out the contest. As a return by the Wolves was sent into the net, Chautauqua Lake celebrated yet another berth in the Section VI title game.

Monday was the final game on the home floor for Olson, Brynn Engdahl, Stephanie Orton and Bre Smith, as the sectional championship game and any potential games beyond it will be played at neutral sites.

“To be honest, I have tried not to really let it settle in yet. I still think we’ve got a lot of season left to go, and I don’t want to worry about it ending quite yet,” Olson said. “This gym is always going to be a part of me and this team is always going to be a part of me. I just can’t wait to see what happens next.”

Olson led Chautauqua Lake with 12 digs, 12 assists, and 9 aces on Monday, while also adding four kills. Engdahl led Chautauqua Lake with 7 kills, along with 10 digs and an ace.

“Ava and Brynn have really been the cornerstones of this team for a while,” Meadows said. “They are like coaches on the court, both of them. … When they step up and they are leaders, it really brings the rest of the team along with them.”

Also standing out for Chautauqua Lake was Fairbank with 10 assists, 8 digs, 3 kills and an ace; Bre Smith with 4 kills and 2 aces; Jeanine Group with 5 kills and 4 digs; and Paddock with 3 kills, 2 aces and 2 blocks.

Clymer/Sherman was led by Alexys Neckers with 13 kills, 12 digs and an assist. Janelle Burchanowski had 9 assists, 4 kills, and an ace. Lily Martin had 9 digs, 2 kills, and an ace.

“We gave (Chautauqua Lake) everything they could handle. They have battled all year,” Lewczyk said of his team. “… A great group of kids, they work hard and never give up. Things just didn’t go our way tonight.”

Chautauqua Lake now advances to the Section VI, Class D championship game, on Friday at 7 p.m. at Southwestern High School. Awaiting them, once again, is the Panama Panthers, who defeated Westfield on Monday night.

“In our Class D, there is some perennial power. It’s the same four or five teams every year,” said Meadows. “… I think it’s a confidence thing. I think that when we play Panama, they are a little bit older, they have been playing together a little bit more … but we’ve come a long way since that first time that we played them.”