Tully Girls Volleyball Reaches Sectional Final After Five-Set Thriller

Tully High School’s girls volleyball team advanced to the Section III Class D championship game Wednesday night, overcoming a determined Remsen squad in a 3-2 victory. The win marks the Black Knights’ first appearance in a sectional final in four years, ending a three-year stretch of semifinal defeats.

The match, played at Remsen High School after a nearly two-hour bus ride through snowy conditions, saw Tully secure the win with a decisive 15-8 score in the final set. Tully coach Jeremy Cook described the victory as a significant milestone for the team. “We got over the semifinal hump,” Cook said. “It was a crazy back-and-forth match. I’m super proud of how our girls got a hard-fought win.”

Tully took the first set 26-24, establishing an early lead. Remsen responded with a 25-23 win in the second, and Tully answered with another 25-23 victory, bringing the score to 2-1 in favor of the Black Knights. However, Remsen forced a fifth set with a 25-21 win in the fourth, setting the stage for a tense final showdown.

Cook emphasized the team’s ability to adapt throughout the match. “I was really happy with the grit we showed tonight,” he said. “It was a long bus ride and it took some extra time to receive ready for tonight, but we did what was needed to win.” He highlighted the importance of defensive adjustments, noting that defense is a core strength of the team. “We shifted our mindset and bought into the adjustments,” Cook added. “We’re able to beat people with our defense, along with our serves and serves received. Opponents find that it’s tough to put us away in close matches.”

Several players contributed significantly to Tully’s victory. Anna Lund recorded five blocks, 22 digs, 37 assists, and an ace. Madelyn Lund added 43 digs and two aces, while Ella Lund led the attack with 14 kills and six blocks, also contributing an ace. Vanessa Altman tallied 24 digs, and Rylan Walkup added nine kills and six blocks.

This season marked a change for Tully, as the team moved from Class C to Class D competition. Cook believes the move has been beneficial, providing new challenges, and opportunities. “The change in scenery has been good for us,” Cook said. “It was nice to play someone new tonight. Remsen is super talented. (Remsen) definitely had to develop us work for our points.”

Tully (17-3) will now face either top-seeded Owen D. Young or fourth-seeded Town of Webb in the Section III Class D championship game, scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Central Valley Academy. Cook expressed his excitement for the team’s opportunity. “I’m super excited for the girls,” he said. “It doesn’t come easy or often for us. We’ve been in a little bit of a rut these last few years, so I’m excited for us to play in that environment once again. It’s justification for the hard work and time we’ve put in this season.”

Remsen concluded its season with a 15-4 record.