Section V girls volleyball playoff top seeds, best players, what to know

What's in the water at Spencerport?

Girls volleyball players like Molly McKinney, Brooke Endres, Cassandra Westphal and Molly Guzik have led the Rangers to their first league title since 2019. They championed Monroe County Division III with a perfect 8-0 record this fall.

Coach Jaime Passinault has guided Spencerport to a 14-4 overall record. She spoke about the program's resurgence after a gritty five set win Oct. 19, and how important it was to beat a program like Irondequoit that was coming off a banner year.

"We've developed into a solid team," Passinault said. "They've really come together as a unit. They work well together, they support each other, they listen to their coaches and improve all the time. They work their butts off."

Spencerport still toying with offense

Spencerport was still adjusting its offense prior to the postseason.

Passinault was attempting to master how to best utilize McKinney, her setter of three years. McKinney is aggressive with "tricky" dumps. She's been tasked with running a faster offense and spreading kills to Endres, Westphal and Guzik.

Guzik is a natural athlete who's been an outside hitter all four years. An All-Greater Rochester lacrosse player, Guzik agreed with her teammates that this season has been her favorite volleyball season at Spencerport.

"It's amazing how we can go all year, and maybe we wouldn't be friends because of volleyball, but now we're the best of friends, and that really shows on the court too," Guzik said.

Irondequoit seniors proud of freshmen

Irondequoit coach Marc Callari's Eagles are coming off of a Section V Class A and regional title run that ended in the state tournament.

Senior setter Laney Flynn is back after breaking the program's single season assist record. Senior outside hitter McKenna Callari recently surpassed 1,000 career digs. Senior Natalie Pedersen is another strong outside who praised their freshmen Aleah Nolan, Mackenzie Cushman, Leah Greco and Sophia DeRouen for stepping up.

"All four of them have made a really big impact that I don't we were expecting, but they've been a really big part of this team and helping us grow," Pedersen said.

Section V girls volleyball top seeds

Class AAA: Fairport (17-0).

Class AA1: Webster Schroeder (14-1).

Class AA2: Irondequoit (12-5).

Class A: Pittsford Sutherland (15-2).

Class B: Midlakes (15-4).

Class C1: Attica (17-0).

Class C2: Bloomfield (18-1).

Class D1: Alexander (17-2).

Class D2: Avoca-Prattsburgh (12-3).

Hitters and setters to watch in the Section V girls volleyball tournament

List compiled by Section V coaches and the Democrat and Chronicle staff.

McKenna Callari, Irondequoit: The senior surpassed her 1,000th dig and has over 1,051. The four-year starter has over 682 kills and 295 aces for her career, which includes a section title and states trip. This season Callari has over 245 kills, 2268 digs and 88 aces.

Meghan Clifford, Fairport: Senior middle hitter is the returning AGR Co-Player of the Year eclipsed 1,000 career kills. Marquette commit guided Red Raiders to 17-0 record.

Kiera Cornman, Fairport: Senior outside hitter recently surpassed 1,000 career kills. The Hawaii beach volleyball commit hopes for a second straight section title.

Chloe Cunniffe, Pittsford Sutherland: The sophomore setter is in her third year. Used to run 6-2 rotation but she now sets in a 5-1. Had over 226 assists, 13 kills, 34 digs.

Ellie Dorritie, Penfield: Outside hitter.

Lauren Emke, Pittsford Mendon: Middle/right side hitter had 81 kills for the 12-5 Vikings.

Brooke Endres, Spencerport: Outside hitter.

Maddy Fallows, Pittsford Mendon: Outside hitter had put down 93 kills this season.

Sarah Ferruzza, Webster Schroeder: The senior and four-year starter is the program's all-time assists leader with 1,444. This season she has over 140 digs, 21 blocks, 35 kills and 30 aces. Also play basketball and softball.

Laney Flynn, Irondequoit: The senior set the Eagles' single season assists record in 2022, handing out 796 assists during their section championship and states run. Flynn has over 1,721 career assists, 505 digs and 193 aces. This season she has 665 assists, 172 digs and 71 aces.

Lina Fitzharris, Webster Schroeder: The senior four-year starter recently committed to Endicott College. The utside hitter has over 834 career kills, and over 253 kills, 22 aces, 101 digs and 19 block.s

Julia Geitner, Canandaigua: The junior is "incredibly dynamic" with an "explosive vertical". She plays outside, right side and middle and has 216 kills on a 10 kills per match average while hitting .423. Geitner also has 16 aces, 25 blocks, and 281 service receptions. Over 250 over her 500 career digs came this season.

Sierra George, Newark: The junior setter and team captain is a two-year starter with over 612 assists through two seasons to go along with 142 aces. George is a two-time all-league pick and twice won Team MVP.

Sarah Gestring, Pittsford Mendon: Led the Vikings with 122 kills at outside hitter.

Adelaide Grace, Harley Allendale Columbia: Senior hitter leads the reigning Section V champs in kills with 178.

Molly Guzik, Spencerport: Hitter.

Skylar Jehlen, Churchville-Chili: The senior setter shattered the school's assist record. She currently has 1,817, which is 59 more than the previous mark. Jehlen has earned a Section V title, Team MVP, AGR and all-state throughout her five-year career.

Lilly Kelly, Pittsford Mendon: The setter paced Mendon's attack with 359 assists during a 12-5 season.

Jordyn Leader, Pittsford Sutherland: The junior produced over 94 kills, 34 digs and 20 aces.

Molly McKinney, Spencerport: Setter.

Erin Mueller, Webster Schroeder: The former libero and setter currently is an outside with over 1,200 digs, 273 aces, 264 kills and 385 assists. Mueller, a senior and AGR selection, is a five-year starter committed to Colgate.

Natalie Pedersen, Irondequoit: The senior is a three-year starter who has 337 kills, 207 Digs and 74 aces this fall. For her career, the Section V champ registered 720 kills, 539 digs and 181 aces.

Dana Reschke, LeRoy: Senior setter surpassed 1,000 career assists this season.

Zora Scannell-Rooks, Harley Allendale Columbia: The sophomore setter had 379 assists for last year's state finalist Wolves.

Cassandra Westphal, Spencerport: Middle hitter.

Lana Wood, Fairport: Surpassed 2,000 assists this season. "She is a stud that will work as hard as any other kid on the court. Understand we do not have a back up setter so will push through any pain or frustration for her team. Cheers for every single player on her team and the JV team and never expects the same for herself," coach Trish Forgensi said.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V girls volleyball playoff top seeds, best players for 2023