SECTION 4 VOLLEYBALL: CORNING STAYS UNBEATEN AS THEY TOP ITHACA FOR 2ND STRAIGHT SECTIONAL TITLE (24 PHOTOS) (November 8, 2026)

BY BRIAN FEES
Southern Tier Sports Report
TIOGA CENTER — The Corning Hawks volleyball team stayed unbeaten and won their second straight sectional title, beating Ithaca 25-10, 25-14, 25-18 for the Class AAA Championship on Sunday morning.

“Very excited for them,” Corning coach Barb Smith said. “They have been working hard. It was kind of one of our goals since the beginning of the season. We said one game at a time, one point at a time.”

For the players it’s special to get the win, especially with a big senior class this year.

“Just to continue our senior season is great,” senior Sam Molingou said. “You know if you lose this game it’s the end of your volleyball career.”

While the pressure of needing to win to continue your career was there, the players also had a lot of excitement for the match.

“I think so (there was pressure), but I feel like for most of us there was excitement,” Molingou said. “We had a really strong season and we knew we could win, it was just about execution.”

The players didn’t let any pressure get to them in the match.

“Not letting the pressure get to us and just applying it to our game,” senior Char Tarns said. 

The Hawks are 15-0 on the year and have lost just one set all year.

“It’s special, it’s just the best feeling,” Starns said of winning the title. 

The first set saw Ithaca come out with a lot of energy as the match was back and forth the whole time.

For the Hawks it was crucial to match the energy of the Little Red.

“We talked about that, talked about the back and forth and trying to get a good read on what they are doing and we made some adjustments,” Sith said. “We have had some early morning practices, the girls like them for some reason. Just made some adjustments and I thought played great defense today.”

The players knew they had to come out with a lot of energy.

“It was the most important thing for all of us,” Molingou said. “We knew without the energy there was no way we were going to win. If you are not excited you don’t play well.”

Neither team had more than a two-point lead in the first set until the match got to 18 all. At that point Corning won six straight points. 

The close set brought even more energy to the Hawks.

‘It definitely does,” Molingou said. “Once you open up a gape so much that you are so far ahead and you know it would take a lot for the to come back you can lose some focus. When you are head to head it makes it a lot more interesting, you know every point matters from that point on.”

The Hawks dominated the second set, starting off up 5-0 and 11-5 on the way to the win. Molingou had four kills and two blocks in the set. 

The third set started out with Ithaca getting off to a fast start, going up 11-6 in the set.

“We were down and you just have to put it in play, put it in play and make them make mistakes,” Smith said. 

The players knew they could come back.

“Just have to push,” Starns said.

“Just know every point matters,” Molingou said. “Even if there is a little bit of a lead we have come back from worse. Last time we played Ithaca they had a seven-point lead and we came back and won in three sets. It’s really about having the energy and knowing it’s possible to win even when you are behind.”

Down 11-6, the Hawks reeled off seven straight points to go up 13-11, including two kills by Jillian Wood. 

The set was tied at 15, when Starns got a kill and Sophie Schoonover went on a run at the line, with three aces in the stretch as Corning won seven straight points.

“She’s good with reading the court and where she needs to put the ball,” Smith said.”

Molingou had nine kills, two digs and five blocks and Starns had nine kills, four digs, an ace and five points, with four blocks. 

The size for the Hawks caused a lot of issues for Ithaca. 

“The size helps, it’s definitely great knowing as soon as I’m out there is someone as good as me (Starns) going up front,” Molingou said. 

Wood had nine kills, 12 digs, seven points, two aces and two blocks and Schoonover had nine points, three aces, seven digs and three kills. Paisley Emmick had 30 assists, six digs and 11 points.

Now it’s on to the regional final next Saturday at Chenango Valley.

“Really excited,” Smith said. “I actually scouted yesterday so I have some good ideas and I think we’ll be okay.”

The players are excited for regionals. 

“I really want to win regionals next week,” Molingou said. “I really want to go to states, especially senior year.”
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES

PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE MATCH:

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