TOP-SEEDED BERWICK TOO MUCH FOR ATHENS

By: Tim Birney | AthensWildcats.com | October 23, 2021 | Photo courtesy Lance Larcom

 
TOP-SEEDED BERWICK TOO MUCH FOR ATHENS
 

BERWICK —  Last year, Berwick ended Athens’ Cinderella run through the District 2-4 Class AAA Sub-Regionals in the finals. This year, Berwick ended it before it could even get started.

The Lady Bulldogs swept the Lady Wildcats by scores of 25-15, 25-15, and 25-11 here Saturday in the opening round of the District 2-4 Class AAA Sub-Regionals.

“It was a good effort,” said Athens coach Heather Hanson. “Berwick has a big powerhouse hitter and that took the momentum from us.

“It was a great experience for the girls. I am so proud of them and the effort they put in,” added Hanson.

In 2020,  a senior-laden Athens team entered the Sub-Regionals as the seventh seed, and promptly upset second-seeded Greater Nanticoke in a five-set thriller. In the semis, Athens swept Tunkhannock to advance to the championship match against top-seeded Berwick.

Led by a pair sophomore hitters — 6-1 Cece Isenberg and 5-10 Sarah Steeber, Berwick swept Athens.

The Lady Bulldogs, who return nearly everyone from last year’s team, dominated play at the net Saturday.

Junior Braleynn Wood led Athens with seven service points, six assists, and three digs, while senior Taylor Walker had six points, and seven digs, and freshman Ella Coyle had four points and 14 digs.

Freshman Kassie Babcock had four points, including three aces, and three kills, while junior Audrey Clare had four points, four assists, and four digs, senior Ally Martin had three points, five digs, and two kills, junior Cassy Friend added three kills, and junior Cailin McDaniel chipped in with two digs.

Athens, now 6-7, wraps up the regulars season with three matches next week, beginning at Corning Monday.

 

About the Author

Tim Birney Author Bio
Tim Birney

Tim Birney is the founder / owner of River Road Media Group. He was born and raised in the Valley, graduating from Waverly High School in 1984.

Birney earned an Associate's Degree in Journalism from SUNY Morrisville in 1986 and a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism / Public Relations from Utica College of Syracuse University in 1988. He began his newspaper career at The Daily Review in Towanda in 1989, before moving on to The Evening Times in 1995. He spent more than 10 years at the Times, the last four as Managing Editor.

River Road Media Group includes five sites in "The Sports Reports" family that cover 24 school districts in five counties: Valley Sports Report (launched Aug. 10, 2009), Tioga County (NY) Sports Report (Aug. 13, 2018), and Northern Tier Sports Report (Aug. 31, 2020); Northern Tier West Sports Report (March 15, 2021) Southern Tier Sports Report (Aug. 16, 2021).