SOMERS, N.Y. - After beating John Jay in the sectional quarterfinals last week, Somers faced Panas for a chance to reach the finals. Two of the three sets were close, but the Tuskers came away with a sweep to advance to Sunday's championship match against Rye at the Westchester County Center.
Somers wasted no time getting started. Zara Salazar served an ace, Abby Babboni delivered a kill from the middle, and Brynn Robinson's diving save set up Shari Marrero for a winning dink that helped build a 5-1 lead.
The advantage grew to 7-2 on Maegan Brown's off-speed spike, but Panas stayed engaged. Three kills and a dink tied the score at eight.
Panas didn't let up. More strong front-line play and a few aces opened a 17-12 lead.
That got Somers' attention, and Khloe Kisthart answered with a little misdirection to begin the comeback. The setter dropped a second-ball dink, Ella Barton followed with a block, and Claire Cronin served an ace.
Panas still maintained an 18-16 advantage. With a kill and the help of a Somers error, the Panthers extended their lead to 20-17.
However, Panas gave the points right back with three errors, and the Tuskers took a 22-20 lead on an ace by Katie Kourakos and a kill by Maegan Brown.
Two dinks kept Panas in the game, but the Somers front line had seen enough. Babboni delivered a kill from the middle, and Cronin followed with a kill to the right to help secure a 25-23 victory.
In the second set, Somers' front line continued to dominate. In addition to another Cronin kill, Babboni delivered a winning push, two kills and a block.
Trailing 5-2, Panas answered and took an 8-7 lead. Unfortunately for the Panthers, a miscommunication cost them what would be their final lead of the set.
Cronin followed with a kill, Salazar added an ace, and after a diving save kept the ball alive, Cronin went crosscourt to give Somers a 13-11 advantage.
Babboni then rose for a block, and Maegan Brown did double duty. She blocked a long Panas bump and delivered a kill to extend the lead to 17-12.
From there, Svea Almquist served four straight aces, and the Tuskers cruised to a 25-14 victory.
Leading two sets to none, Somers opened the third with a 3-1 advantage. However, the Tuskers returned the favor with several errors of their own. Five Somers miscues, along with a dink and a kill by Panas, gave the Panthers a 7-4 lead.
Fortunately for Somers, Panas was just as generous. Three errors, combined with more strong play by Maegan Brown, allowed the Tuskers to rally. Brown delivered a dink and a kill to tie the score at nine, and a Robinson ace provided a brief lead.
Panas responded with three aces to regain a 14-11 advantage.
That lead didn't last long. Babboni delivered a first-ball kill and pushed deep to tie the score at 14. After a few more Panas errors, Babboni added a block at the net to put Somers ahead 18-15.
Panas stayed within striking distance until Somers turned to a sister act. Morgan Brown delivered a block and kept the ball alive, allowing Maegan Brown to finish the point for a 22-18 lead.
Morgan also came up with a block at 22-20, putting the Tuskers two points away from victory. Babboni then delivered the finishing blow with a kill from the middle to secure a 25-21 win and complete the sweep.
Somers will face defending class champion Rye in Sunday's final, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Westchester County Center.
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