Wildfire Volleyball: Season ends, however team hopeful for future

The season for the Saco-Hinsdale Wildfire came down to a showdown against the Nashua Porcupines twice last weekend at the District 3C Tournament, held in Saco, knocking them out of divisionals.

Both teams went into the tournament tied, and in a draw for second place, when the Wildfire opted to open against Lustre Christian, rather than simply take the bye, which they won in a coin toss.

"They came a long way," Coach Kathy Siroky said of her team, what finished third in the tournament. "Third place is very good. It's not always where you would like to end, but I'm okay with that."

She went on to say the team fought hard all weekend.

"If you look back on the whole season, they improved immensely," Coach Siroky continued.

After Saco-Hinsdale made short work of the Lady Lions, them faced Nashua, who defeated them in three matches (23-25, 22-25 and 19-25.)

Saco Hinsdale did fight their way back up the loser's bracket, but they ran into a wall of quills, when trying to overcome the Porcupines for a chance to earn a second place birth into the Northern C Divisionals.

Nashua also won that match 25-18, 25-19 and 25-18.

Saco-Hinsdale was led by Freshman Mickayla Johnson, who had six kills in the game.

Senior Courtney Capdeville led the team in digs, with four. She tied Payton Chopper for the lead in aces. Both had two a piece.

Delaney Beil had the lead in assists, recording 13.

"It's tough to end the year on a loss, but everyone had to lose at sometime," Coach Siroky said.

In their first loss to Nashua in the semi-final round, the team was led by freshman Jada Sudbrack, who had six kills, of 20 total.

Bailey Funk recorded the only block.

Johnson had three of nine aces.

Of the 14 digs, Libero Payton Chopper had four.

Beil had 11 assists.

In the team's opening victory against Lustre Christian on Friday, the team looked focused, winning in three games (25-18, 25-17 and 25-22).

Alana Malmend has been an amazing hitter for the Wildfire, and she shined in the team's win with eight of the team's 28 kills.

Sudbrack added 11 points on aces.

Capdeville had five of the team's 20 digs.

Beil led in assists, with 22.

After the game, the PCN caught up with Peyton Chop