The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
VVS boys take Class B regional title
Red Devils defeat Hudson Falls in battle of section champs
CHITTENANGO, N.Y. » Throughout Vernon-Verona-Sherrill volleyball’s run to a Section III Class B title, the Red Devils were plagued by slow starts.
VVS dropped the first set in its semifinal victory over Oneida before closing the contest out 3-2, and on Thursday, coach Alex Rose’s side went down 1-0 against Chittenango before recovering to clinch the section title, 3-1.
Saturday, playing against Section II winner Hudson Falls for a regional banner, the Red Devils broke that habit, exploding to take the first set 25-8.
“We started off hot,” VVS senior Nate Brewer said. “But we knew no team that won its section would give up.”
Following a 25-21 VVS second set, Hudson proved its resolve, battling back to win the third 25-23.
But the Red Devils were too much for the Tigers down the stretch. Buoyed by impressive performances from Brewer, Owen Rose, and Cole Smith, VVS made sure Hudson did not force a deciding fifth set.
Cole Smith dug seemingly everything hit his way, posting 23 digs on the night. Brewer added 14 digs of his own to go with a team-high 14 kills. Brennan Miller tossed out 18 assists to lead the RedDevils. OwenRose did a little bit of everything for VVS, ending the night with five digs, 10 assists, eight kills, and seven block kills.
“It’s awesome to go out this way. No better way to end it,” Brewer said, crediting the seniors from last season’s team for the program turnaround. “They set it all up.”
For second year varsity coach Rose, this year’s group of seniors have been special to watch.
“They had that hunger,” Rose said. “Their leadership has been fantastic. They knew what I expected.”
Brewer got things going for VVS in the first, collecting three of his teamhigh 14 kills during an 8-2 opening
run. The Red Devils continued their torrid pace throughout the first, taking a 24-8 lead on another Brewer kill before sealing the first 25-8.
Hudson recovered from its anemic opening set to force the issue in the second, holding a 15-12 advantage over VVS midway through. An Owen Rose kill, followed by a Matt DeNova strike, crept the Red Devils to within a point at 15-14 moments later. Then, the two teams proceeded to trade points all the way to 19-19, neither side able to retain serve. Brewer helped VVS create a little separation with back-toback, booming kills for a 21-19 edge. Teammate Kyle Greene put away a kill of his own four points later for a 24-20 lead. Hudson Falls crept a point closer to pull within three at 24-21, but VVS claimed the second set 25-21.
Hudson Falls prevented the shutout courtesy of a 25-23 third set win and carried that momentum to the fourth. Never trailing by more than five, the Tigers led 20-19 late in what would be the final frame of the contest. DeNova rocketed a kill to knot the contest at 20-all before Owen Rose and Greene ramped up the defensive intensity with an array of big blocks at the net. Up 21-20 after a Hudson Falls shot into the net, the VVS duo denied Hudson Falls attackers with three consecutive blocks, bringing Red Devil fans to their feet on the third block, which landed for a kill and a 2220 VVS lead. A VVS serve landed in the net on the next point as Hudson Falls crept back within a point, but Rose and Greene came right back with two more block kills for game point. Then, a decade after VVS captured its last regional title, Rose’s side finished its comeback season with a 25-21 set win and regional title.
“We played tough, played hard,” Owen Rose said.
“We were a little complacent later on, but we were able to finish out,” Alex Rose said.
VVS’ regional win was also unique as senior Owen was able to enjoy the victory with his elder brother, Alex. The younger Rose said winning the section and the region with his brother “means a lot” as his career winds down.
“Really exciting,” Cole Smith said of bringing the regional championship home to VVS. “It was fun to win it for the seniors.”
And though the Red Devils bid adieu to an outstanding senior class, coach Rose is optimistic about the future.
“We have a big class coming back.”