A day after facing a familiar foe in Schenectady, the Amsterdam Lady Rams matched up against one of the top teams in the Foothills Council for the second time this season. When all was said and done the Lady Rams were on the losing end of a 25-7, 25-8, 25-13 match Wednesday night at Broadalbin -Perth High School.
The Lady Patriots took control of the first game early behind the serving of senior Chelsea LeBlanc. Leading 7-3, LeBlanc pounded the ball into the center of the AHS defense for eight points and a commanding 15-3 lead. That set a tone for what Amsterdam would see throughout the match.
“I thought we served pretty well and that was key,” Broadalbin Perth head coach Mike Calvello said. “We had 20 aces for the match.”
Destinee Smith would score two points off her serve for AHS and cut the lead to 18-7, but a kill by Jordan Marshall put the ball in the hands of Zoe Simonson, who served out the first game leaving Amsterdam’s defense searching for answers.
“Our defense wasn’t very good,” AHS head coach Christine Sherlock said. “I didn’t think we had much energy. That energy has to come from themselves. We can play better than this.”
Simonson picked up where she left off in game two scoring the first six points off her serve. She led the Lady Patriots for the match with 17 points and six kills.
“She definitely has improved a lot,” Calvello said of Simonson. “Moving her to the outside (hitter) has been better for her.”
A kill by Simonson would put BPHS up 15-5 in game two. She later scored four more points off her serve and put the game out of reach at 23-7. Keyana Fariello, who led the Lady Patriots with six digs served out the second game.
“It’s hard to get into a rhythm with a lot of loose balls,” Calvello said. “We served well and didn’t let them get into an offense.”
Amsterdam managed to respond a little better in game three. A dig by Cinerea Chrzanowski resulted in one point, and service points from Maria Lomanto and Alana Kaminski would tie the score at 4-4.
But, the Lady Patriots would take control at the net behind kills from LeBlanc and Simonson, and continued to serve well with five straight points from Gabby Smith to lead 12-5. Jessica Anderson’s two points inched Amsterdam closer at 16-9, but Jordan Marshall and Megan Ryder would help the Lady Patriots close out the match.
“They were fantastic,” said AHS coach Chris Sherlock of her opponent. “And we knew that coming in.”
Chelsea LeBlanc had 12 points, three aces and five kills for BPHS. Marshall had 10 points and six aces, Smith and Ryder had seven points each. Lauren Adamchick had a pair of kills for the winners. Maria Lomanto led AHS with three kills. Smith had a pair of aces, Brittanie Brown had three points, and Chrzanowski had six digs.
“They are better than they were last year,” Calvelllo said of AHS. “They have better athletes.”
Amsterdam is back in action on Friday at Scotia Glenville. The Lady Rams will be aiming to win their first Foothills council match.
“We have to step it up,” Sherlock said. “This wasn’t what I was looking for tonight. I know we are better than this. I’m looking forward to Friday.”
