Columbia celebrates during the Section 2 Class AA finals against Bethlehem on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Saratoga, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union)
Jim Franco/Times Union
Columbia senior Tessa Warner sets the ball during the Section 2 Class AA finals against Bethlehem on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Saratoga, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union)
Jim Franco/Times Union
The Columbia bench cheers for its team during the Section 2 Class AA finals against Bethlehem on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Saratoga, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union)
Jim Franco/Times Union
The Columbia girls’ volleyball team celebrates after beating Bethlehem for the Section 2 Class AA championship on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025 at Saratoga Springs High School.
Adam Shinder/Times Union
Columbia junior Emma Mitchell taps the ball over the hands of Bethlehem senior Kaitlyn Donovan during the Section 2 Class AA finals on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Saratoga, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union)
Jim Franco/Times Union
Bethlehem fans cheer for their team during the Section 2 Class AA finals against Columbia on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Saratoga, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union)
Jim Franco/Times Union
Bethlehem head coach Lisa Kniffin during the Section 2 Class AA finals against Columbia on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Saratoga, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union)
Jim Franco/Times Union
Columbia fans cheer for their team during the Section 2 Class AA finals against Bethlehem on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Saratoga, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union)
Jim Franco/Times Union
Bethlehem senior Tess Bartholomew dives to the ball during the Section 2 Class AA finals against Columbia on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Saratoga, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union)
Jim Franco/Times Union
Columbia head coach Chris Hosley during the Section 2 Class AA finals against Bethlehem on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Saratoga, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union)
Jim Franco/Times Union
Columbia sophomore Catalina Lopez sets the ball during the Section 2 Class AA finals against Bethlehem on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Saratoga, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union)
Jim Franco/Times Union
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Though Columbia was the No. 2 seed and Bethlehem the No. 1 seed for the Section 2 Class AA girls’ volleyball tournament, the Blue Devils headed into Friday night’s championship match having already pulled out a five-set win over the top seed when the teams met in a Suburban Council match in late September.
But, in preparing for the sectional final, Columbia coach Chris Hosley didn’t want his team thinking about that result at all.
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“We try not to talk about those types of things, give ourselves false confidence,” Hosley said. “We just try to trust the things we do in practice and know that every team we (face), the match is going to get more and more challenging. We weren’t taking anything for granted.”
That approach benefited the Blue Devils, who won their second area title in three years by beating Bethlehem in straight sets, 25-19, 25-23, 25-13, at Saratoga Springs High School.
Columbia (14-4 overall) fell behind in each of the first two sets before eventually carving out an advantage, then emphatically put the championship away in the final set.
“I feel like that shows how much of a family we are, and how much fight we have and how bad we wanted it,” said Columbia senior setter and co-captain Tessa Warner.
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It was a win that provided a sense of redemption for Columbia. After winning the 2023 Class AA title, the Blue Devils were the No. 1 seed for last year’s tournament, but were stunned in the semifinals by eventual champion Niskayuna.
“Since August, we’ve had a really big drive to win,” Columbia senior outside hitter Keira Cook said. “Last year, we lost in the semifinals. This year, we wanted to come back and just play our best, and I think that really helped us.”
Columbia senior Keira Cook blocks a shot by Bethlehem senior Avery Bush during the Section 2 Class AA finals on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Saratoga, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union)
Jim Franco/Times Union
Cook led the way for Columbia, finishing with 15 kills. Five of those came during the third set, including four as part of a 10-0 run that helped the Blue Devils open up a 14-4 lead and made the championship victory seem inevitable.
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Emma Mitchell added nine kills for Columbia, Ava Tran contributed eight kills and nine digs, Warner dished out 28 assists and Catalina Lopez accumulated 26 digs.
“My hitters were really connecting with me, and, as the setter, that’s exactly what you want,” Warner said. “Full credit to my passers. I couldn’t do it without them, and I’m so proud of us. That’s what I love about us, we’re always fighting.”
For Bethlehem (16-3), Friday’s loss was a disappointing end to what had been a brilliant season. The Eagles, who lost to Niskayuna in last year’s area Class AA final, came up a win shy of the program’s first sectional championship since 2009.
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“This is the closest team that I’ve ever coached,” Bethlehem coach Lisa Kniffin said. “They support each other, they always have each others’ backs. It’s going to be hard not going back to the gym next week.”
Columbia will play next in a NYSPHSAA subregional game on Wednesday against the Section 3 champion at Tully High School. The Blue Devils were eliminated in the regional round by Section 3’s West Genesee following their last area championship in 2023.