VICTOR – This tournament carries a reputation within the world of high school volleyball.
Win at Victor, and you’re likely to win elsewhere in New York state. The Blue Devils' 2026 girls’ varsity tournament was no exception.
Victor hosted 31 opposing teams from across New York on Sept. 19. They included representatives from Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany and more.
Eight courts, four defending state champions and hundreds of fans set the stage. Victor’s semifinal berth in the championship bracket headlined Section V results.
“Everyone wants to play these teams,” said Victor coach Matt Glover, the tournament’s director. “All of us coaches want these matchups. This is what makes our kids better and our teams stronger.”
Victor reaches championship semis
Victor finished unbeaten in pool play.
Wins over Midlakes, Pittsford Sutherland and Baldwinsville earned the Blue Devils one of eight spots in the top playoff bracket.
Victor defeated five-time reigning Class C state champion Portville in the championship quarterfinals before a narrow loss to Orchard Park of Section VI in the semis. Orchard Park fell to Lancaster, the reigning Class AAA state champ, in the final.
“(Portville) served very aggressively, and I thought we made some adjustments in our serve receive,” Glover said. “We were able to pass the ball to run our offense. That end-of-the-game pressure, can we handle it and find a way to win when we have game point situations?”
Four local teams reach ‘gold’ bracket
Four Section V teams qualified for the second playoff tier, known as the ‘gold’ bracket. This required each to place second in their respective four-team pool.
Penfield and Mercy both dropped their gold bracket quarterfinal. Irondequoit fell in its semifinal to Westhill, the reigning Class B state champion, after defeating Mercy.
Webster Schroeder, the reigning Class AA state champ, defeated Sacred Heart in its gold bracket opener before falling to Eden, another Class C power which won eight consecutive NYS crowns before Portville began its reign.
More Section V results
Third-place finishers from pool play competed in the silver playoff bracket and fourth-place finishers played in bronze.
Hilton finished runner-up behind Clarence in the silver bracket. Churchville-Chili reached the silver semifinals, while Fairport and Midlakes fell in the silver bracket quarters.
Pittsford Mendon defeated Pittsford Sutherland in the bronze bracket final after beating Brockport in the semis. Canandaigua, Webster Thomas and Wayne each dropped their bronze quarterfinal.
Livonia hosts inaugural tournament
Livonia hosted its first varsity girls' volleyball tournament on Sept. 19. Two defending Section V champions finished atop the standings.
Charles G. Finney, re-classified to A this year after winning Section V Class B in 2025, placed first at Livonia. York, the reigning Class D champ in both Section V and the state, was runner-up.
Avoca-Prattsburgh placed third at Livonia and Wayland-Cohocton was fourth.
Jeff Uveino joined the USA Today Network in 2023 and began covering Rochester-area high school sports in 2026. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University's Jandoli School of Communication and native of Perry. Contact him at juveino@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @realjuveino and on Instagram @jeffusports.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: State title contenders collide as Victor hosts volleyball showcase
