Blue Bombers spikers take home the Class D title

After topping the Northern Adirondack Bobcats in five sets in their first match on Sept. 10 during the regular season, the Blue Bombers cut the deficit to four sets in the second meeting on Oct. 8. With a sectional banner in sight, the team wanted keep the “5-4-3” pattern alive.

“We came into this and were like it’s going to be three … there (was) no other option,” Lake Placid senior captain Norah Galvin said.

The Blue Bombers swept the Bobcats 3-0 en route to the Section VII, Class D title Friday evening at AuSable Valley Central School.

The team won by scores of 25-23, 25-20 and 25-14, marking its first title since 2022 — or second consecutive Class D crown since both squads moved up a class last season, and there was not a Section VII, Class D tournament.

Galvin nearly had her third quadruple-double this season, recording 19 assists, 15 points, 10 digs and nine aces and two kills. Her efforts were good enough to mark her eighth triple-double this season, while also earning the player of the match honors.

Teammate Brooke Meyer, a junior, also had a stand-out performance with 15 points, nine aces and seven kills. Sophomore Ireland Cassidy chipped in with seven kills, five digs, four points, two blocks and one ace.

Lake Placid narrowly escaped the opening set, but only got stronger in the next two cruising to the title. Galvin said this was one of the best matches the team has played all season long.

“From warm-ups, I could tell that we were all in, and we were all focused,” she said. “It’s rare to see us all focused and ready, which it was great to see. I really loved that everyone was really determined to win and that we got the win today and we get to bring home the trophy.”

Blue Bombers head coach Sandy Huber, who plans on retiring from coaching following the conclusion of this season, said this win means everything to this team because of the hard work they’ve put in this year.

“From the beach volleyball clinics that Norah hosted, to more kids going to camps and playing club ball and playing on their free time,” she said. “This year they were really dedicated and this was our big goal, and I’m so proud of them that they met the goal.”

Under Huber, Lake Placid has won four volleyball titles, improving it’s all-time total to eight. Galvin and senior teammate Haileigh LaMare were the lone players on the last Blue Bombers team to win a sectional title.

“It’s crazy because the first time we won sectionals I was a sophomore and we won in four instead of three sets,” Galvin said. “To narrow that down against the same exact team, you could see the growth in our team that everyone has improved and everyone has got better.”

Galvin said she only ever dreamed of winning the sectional title again.

“I’m really excited to see what this brings for our program because I think if we continue to bring this energy to regionals, we can go as far as we want,” she said.

The Blue Bombers, which improved to 5-13 overall, will take on the Chateaugay Bulldogs in the NYSPHSAA Class D subregional round at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Massena Central School. The Bulldogs are currently 14-4 and topped Clifton-Fine 3-0 in the Section X title game.

Individual statistics

LP — Brooke Meyer 15 points, 9 aces, 7 kills; Emma Wylie 1 kill; Fiona Sullivan 3 points, 1 kill, 5 digs, 2 assists; Brooke Beaney 13 digs; Norah Galvin 15 points, 9 aces, 2 kills, 10 digs, 19 assists; Ireland Cassidy 4 points, 1 ace, 7 kills, 5 digs, 2 blocks; Sophie Spanburgh 1 dig; Haieigh LaMare 3 points, 2 aces, 2 kills, 4 digs; Kelsey McKillip 4 points, 1 ace, 4 kills, 5 digs; Reagan LaMotte 7 digs.