NTL VOLLEYBALL: SLOW START DOOMS CANTON AGAINST SAYRE IN D4, CLASS A TITLE GAME (2025-10-31)
BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports ReportATHENS — Canton couldn’t overcome a slow start as they fell to Sayre, 3-1, in the District IV, Class A Volleyball Championship match Thursday.
Sayre took the first two sets 25-19 and 25-18, but the Warriors rallied for a 25-18 third set win.
Sayre, though, finished things off with a 25-17 fourth set victory.
“We had a lot of hitting errors tonight that we don’t typically do, and you just can’t fight back,” said Canton coach Jackie Thompson. “We’re a step behind defensively, and we didn’t show up mentally.”
Tara Gilbert had 14 points, 13 digs, eight kills, and an ace for the Warriors, as Cailyn VanNoy had 20 digs, nine points, nine kills, and an assist.
Makenna Seachrist had 14 points, four kills, three blocks, and two digs, as Danah Wesneski finished with nine points, seven digs, two aces, four assists, and a kill.
Brenna VanNoy had 14 assists to go with four digs, as Kaybree Kendall had 14 points and 19 digs.
Nevaeh Vroman notched six points, four digs, and an assist, while Alyssa May had 10 digs. Adelynn Cardona finished with a kill, and a block.
Sayre jumped out to an 8-2 first set lead thought Canton clawed their way back to 11-7.
Sayre kept them at arm’s length, though, extending their lead to as much as six points (19-13) before the Warriors tried to rally, cutting it to 20-17 on back to back aces from Wesneski.
They wouldn’t get any closer, though, as a hit into the net off a long volley returned the momentum to Sayre.
They would net four of the next six points to secure the first set.
The set was much like the first with Sayre jumping out to a 5-1 lead.
It got as big as 17-7 before Canton mounted a comeback, getting as close as 23-18 before back to back hitting errors gave the win to Sayre.
The Warriors got their first lead of the match to start the third set on a Cailyn VanNoy kill.
After going back and forth early Canton raced out to a 10-5 lead. Sayre would chip away, tying things up at 14-14 and 18-18 but a Redskin net serve made it 19-18 Warriors.
A Cailyn push kill saw Canton take a 2-point lead and from there three straight Sayre errors put the Warriors up 23-18.
A Gilbert ace followed by another Sayre hitting error got the Warriors on the scoreboard.
Canton started the fourth set strong, too, as they took a 3-1 lead, an eventually going up 9-5.
Sayre would rally with a 9-1 run to take a 14-10 advantage.
Canton never recovered, getting as close as 14-13 before Sayre rattled off six straight points to pull.
This is the Warriors’ second straight defeat in the district finals, but they return most of their roster next season as they look to get over the hump.
“It’s good for them to play on a stage like this, at this level,” said Thompson. “Hopefully, it’ll help for next year, but with the new classification system I’m not sure where we’ll be and where that’ll put us.”
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING— —
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