Candor’s bid for back-to-back Class D state titles in volleyball fell short as the Coyotes lost to Section 5’s York, 3-0, in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D championship match Nov. 23 in Glens Falls.
York won the sets by scores of 25-19, 25-20, 25-19 at Harding Mazzotti Arena.
In Saturday’s pool-play semifinals, Candor topped York by a 25-21, 20-25, 16-14 margin and both ended up winning two of three matches to advance to Sunday’s final.
Candor beat Mekeel 25-22, 26-24 in pool play Saturday, then closed with a 1-1 split against Weedsport with the Coyotes’ berth in the final already secured.
Last year, Candor beat Ellicottville, 3-2, in the Class D final to secure the fourth state championship in program history.
Whitney Point, Lansing ousted in semifinals
Whitney Point and Lansing, the two other Section 4 teams to reach the New York State Public High School Athletic Association final four, were both eliminated Friday in pool-play semifinals.
Whitney Point won one of three matches in Class B, topping Putnam Valley 25-23, 25-20. The Golden Eagles lost to CG Finney 20-25, 25-20, 10-15 and to Westhill 19-25, 18-25.
Lansing was a winner of two of three pool-play matches in Class C. The Bobcats beat Port Jefferson 25-20, 25-22, lost to Portville 25-23, 19-25, 12-15, and fell to Mount Academy 21-25, 12-25.
Lansing won the Class B state title in 2023.
In Sunday’s finals, Portville topped Mount Academy 3-0 for a fifth straight Class C title and Westhill defeated CG Finney 3-0 in Class B.
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Candor volleyball’s bid for repeat state title comes up one win short
Reporting by Andrew Legare, Elmira Star-Gazette / Elmira Star-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
