Overall champs

Fredonia captain Elizabeth Morris was not afraid to speak frankly about the respect her team has earned this season.

Morris first referenced how hard Fredonia has worked in recent years to climb from near the bottom of Section VI to a sectional championship. On Friday night, the most successful Fredonia volleyball season in nearly four decades added another accomplishment.

The lights were bright, but the ‘Billies belonged in the spotlight. Any doubt of that was silenced as Fredonia took all three sets against the Depew Wildcats, 25-23, 25-16, and 25-18, to win the Class B crossover girls volleyball match on Friday night at Lake Shore High School.

“It’s amazing. I don’t have the words to say how amazing this moment is. I’ve worked hard, the girls have worked hard over the years. This just shows with consistent persistence and hard work that it will pay off. You will achieve your goals,” Fredonia head coach Amanda Krakowiak said.

The Fredonia ‘Billies celebrate a point during the opening set of the Section VI Class B crossover volleyball match against Depew on Friday night at Lake Shore High School.
OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen

Fredonia reached Friday’s crossover game by beating the defending Section VI champions, the Southwestern Trojans, on Wednesday. The win earned Fredonia its first sectional title in 38 years. But there was one more win left for the ‘Billies to earn in order to claim the overall crown in Section VI, and from the way the contest began on Friday, it was not going to come easy.

From the very first point, the opening set was a battle. Both teams fought hard for each point, and every time Fredonia (13-6, Class B2 champions) started to pull away, Depew (12-7, Class B1 champions) had an answer.

The ‘Billies led 20-16 after an ace from Londyn Wilmot, which prompted a Depew timeout, but the Wildcats responded by cutting the deficit to just a point. Fredonia started to pull away again with Elizabeth Morris serving, but again, Depew cut it to within a point at 24-23.

It was then that Fredonia called a timeout, just a point away from an opening set victory.

As the ball was tipped gently over the net and it fell to the floor, Fredonia came away with the point and celebrated as any team that had not reached this stage in decades would, with multiple players embracing each other with hugs as they jumped around in joy.

Fredonia’s Kaylen Rollins celebrates after a point in the Class B crossover volleyball match against Depew on Friday night at Lake Shore High School.
OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen

But rather than letting that celebration be enough, it was only the beginning. Fredonia lived up its victories all throughout the night, including a big celebration after each set.

By the third one, it didn’t seem surprising anymore. The first set celebration was just a warmup for what was to come.

Fredonia rode the momentum of its opening-set victory to a huge lead to start the second set, with seven straight points in its favor. The barrage to open the second set included a pair of blocks from Wilmot and a violent spike from Lydia LaBarr. In contrast to the opening set, Fredonia held onto its lead from that point and led comfortably throughout the entire second set.

“There are going to be ups and downs in volleyball, that’s just how it is, but the second you can get that momentum to shift back in your favor, that’s huge,” Krakowiak said. “You want to try to maintain that as long as possible.”

The third set began much like the first set did, as the first 10 points were split evenly at five apiece. As Depew started to gain traction, a Fredonia timeout let the ‘Billies regroup to draw even at 10-all.

Four points later, deadlocked at 12-12, Fredonia made its run. Rather than giving the opponent a chance to take the third set like Fredonia did two nights prior in the Class B2 final against reigning champion Southwestern, Fredonia grew into the moment on Friday and pushed forward. An aggressive Fredonia attack captured 10 of the next 12 points to take a commanding lead, 22-14.

From there, Depew only delayed the inevitable. The final point came uneventfully as Fredonia looked over at the officials for a ruling. While the delayed reaction left Fredonia waiting a few extra seconds to storm the court, the ‘Billies more than made up for the moment with a celebration of a lifetime.

“It’s so humbling to see what kind of support we have at this point in the playoffs. My girls and I are so thankful and appreciative of everything our fans do to support us,” Krakowiak said.

“To keep winning with this group and connecting with this group, it’s such an honor. I’m so happy to play with them,” Fredonia senior co-captain Maddie Saunders said.

Teammates hugged each other and danced as their classmates and fans stormed the court to celebrate the culmination of Fredonia’s rise to prominence in Section VI.

“These girls have been up and down. They’ve experienced tough seasons and they didn’t give up, they got better. They are creating the success for themselves,” Krakowiak said. “… I’m so proud of them. It just warms my heart that they have taken all the little bits of advice. They have put in the time and the effort to be persistent and relentless.”

As a team, Fredonia managed 37 kills, 10 aces, and 27 assists. Saunders accounted for all but one of the assists as the offense ran through her ability to set up her teammates, a skill she has refined through playing every position on the floor in her four seasons as a varsity volleyball athlete.

Kaylen Rollins led the team with 11 kills, while LaBarr and Wilmot each had seven, Katherine Fortna had six, and Morris had five. Saunders and Wilmot tied for the team lead with three aces apiece.

“We really tried to be very aggressive,” Krakowiak said. “… That’s what helped us be successful.”

Defensively, LaBarr led Fredonia with 11 digs, while Rollins had seven, Morris had six, and Madison Ambrose had five. The ‘Billies had 38 digs as a team. Wilmot also accounted for four of the team’s six blocks on the night.

Fredonia now advances to a regional qualifier for the state playoffs on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Lake Shore High School. The winner of that contest will travel to Section IV to determine who will advance to the state championships in Glens Falls Nov. 22-24.

“We play very competitive teams in our league and even outside our league. I try hard to go find competitive tournaments, play bigger schools, play schools that we don’t see. All of those things are in preparation for playoffs,” Krakowiak said. “If you’re not planning and trying to prepare for that, you won’t ever reach that.”

Fredonia has now reached the pinnacle of Section VI. Next week, they find out if that climb will continue even higher.

“All the memories with this team, the big plays, I will hold dear to my heart forever. They are so important during the game and after the game,” Saunders said. “They are memories I’ll keep forever.”