2026 STAC Volleyball Large & Small School Championships
STAC Large School Championship: Wednesday, October 28 at 6:00
Corning (West: 10-0, 13-0) at Vestal (Metro: 9-1, 12-1)
The Large School Championship will be a rematch from October 1 in which Corning handed Vestal their only blemish of the season. With both teams entering the contest 5-0, the Hawks came away with the 3-0 victory on the road by scores of 25-21, 25-13, and 25-22. The Hawks were led by Jillian Wood with five points, eight kills, one ace, one block, and 15 digs. Char Starns gathered four points, eight kills, six blocks, one ace, and five digs. Also chipping in were Paisley Emmick with eight points, 30 assists and five digs; Sam Molingou with six kills and two blocks; and Sophie Schoonover with 12 points, one ace, five kills, one assist, and five digs.
Vestal was led by Katelyn Oranu with 11 kills and three blocks, and Jerri Ryan Brenner with 25 assists and six kills. Kate Finch contributed with seven kills and two blocks. Quin Hatalla had five digs, and Ellie Russell collected six assists and four digs.
Since this match, both teams have been red hot. Corning won their next seven straight by not allowing a single point. In fact, the only set they’ve dropped this year is way back in their first contest against Elmira, 3-1. Vestal bounced back to sweep East champion Windsor on the road 3-1, and have recently swept Metro division rivals Maine-Endwell and Union-Endicott.
Corning will look to make school history with their first ever STAC Championship. They’ve been denied three times in the past by Owego. Vestal last won in 2022 with a five-set thriller over Ithaca and will seek their 10th STAC title overall.
STAC Small School Championship: Wednesday, October 28 at 6:15
Windsor (East: 13-1, 13-3) at Owego (Central: 11-2, 12-3)
After dispatching Oneonta in the East Division Tiebreaker 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-23), Windsor is back in the STAC Championship game. These teams met in 2023 at Owego, with the home team getting the 3-0 win in a game much more competitive than the final score shows.
The first time these two teams met on September 29, Windsor took the 3-1 victory behind sets of 25-14, 25-21, 23-25, and 25-22. Ruby Hans led the way 20 kills and three blocks. Her sister Gabby Hans had five aces, Allison Wisnieski 22 assists, and Kelsey Wisnieski 17 digs. Owego stayed competitive in the match, as the last three sets went right down to the end. The River Hawks got 24 assists and seven digs from Payton Newman, and 20 kills and 15 digs by Braelea McLaren. Ava McKeon had three blocks and two aces, Emme Bennett eight digs, and Ella Gilliland chipped in with 10 digs.
Windsor challenged themselves with a tough non-league schedule, in addition to their STAC schedule that includes teams like Owego and Oneonta. Two of their three losses were 3-1 to Westhill in their first game, and 3-0 to Vestal (who will represent the Metro in the Large School Championship). Since their loss to Oneonta on October 20 to even up the East, they’ve swept Susquehanna Valley and Oneonta to take control again.
Owego started the season red hot with five straight sweeps. Like Windsor, Owego accepted some quality non-league opponents by defeating Horseheads at home and dropping a road contest at West champion Corning (Vestal’s opponent in the Large School Championship). Another common opponent was Oneonta, who beat Owego 3-0 on October 6.
The River Hawks (and Indians before a school name change a few years back) have longed owned the STAC Championship, winners of 18 overall, by far the top in conference history. They will look to make it three of the last four years after winning in 2023 and 2024 and losing to Ithaca last year. Windsor defeated Owego in 2018 for their only STAC title.
STAC Championship History:
2025: Ithaca d. Owego 3-0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-17)
2024: Owego d. Corning 3-2 (25-22, 23-25, 25-21, 26-28, 15-9)
2023: Owego d. Windsor 3-0 (28-26, 25-23, 25-18)
2022: Vestal d. Ithaca 3-2 (25-12, 25-20, 15-25, 19-25, 15-11)
2021: Horseheads d. Norwich 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 25-19, 25-16)
2020: No playoffs due to Covid-19
2019: Owego d. Windsor 3-0
2018: Windsor d. Owego 3-1
2017: Owego d. Corning 3-2
2016: Owego d. Corning 2-0 (25-18, 25-18; final of Pool Play with all 4 division winners)
2015: Owego d. Horseheads 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 27-25)
2014: Owego d. Horseheads 3-1 (25-19, 20-25, 25-18, 25-22)
2013: Owego d. Horseheads 3-1 (25-12, 25-22, 23-25, 25-16)
2012: Owego d. Oneonta 3-2 (25-15, 20-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-19)
2011: Owego d. Horseheads 3-1 (25-18, 7-25, 25-17, 25-18)
2010: Vestal d. Horseheads 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-21)
2009: Vestal d. Horseheads 3-1 (25-20, 25-27, 25-14, 26-24)
2008: Owego d. Horseheads 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-19)
2007: Horseheads d. Vestal 3-2 (22-25, 25-6, 21-25, 25-18, 25-23)
2006: * Horseheads d. Windsor 3-1 (25-14, 25-12, 26-28, 25-13)
2006: * Union-Endicott d. Vestal 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-17)
2005: Owego d. Windsor 3-1 (25-18, 25-20, 24-26, 25-13)
2004: Vestal d. Union-Endicott 3-2 (24-26, 25-13, 15-25, 25-25, 25-18)
2003: Union-Endicott d. Vestal 3-1 (17-25, 25-18, 27-25, 25-20)
2002: Union-Endicott d. Vestal 3-2 (30-26, 24-30, 28-30, 30-24, 15-9)
2001: Vestal d. Union-Endicott 3-0 (15-9, 15-7, 15-2)
2000: Ithaca d. Vestal 3-0 (15-12, 15-9, 15-8)
1999: Ithaca d. Johnson City 3-1 (15-3, 15-13, 11-15, 15-8)
1998: Vestal d. Ithaca 3-0 (15-6, 15-9, 15-10)
1997: Owego d. Vestal 3-0 (15-6, 8-15, 15-4, 15-5)
1996: Union-Endicott d. Vestal 3-1 (4-15, 15-10, 15-9, 15-5)
1995: Union-Endicott d. Vestal
1994: Union-Endicott d. Johnson City 3-1 (10-15, 15-11, 15-4, 15-1)
1993: Vestal d. Owego 3-1 (9-15, 15-8, 15-8, 15-10)
1992: Vestal d. Owego 2-0 (15-11, 15-13)
1991: Owego d. Union-Endicott 2-0 (15-9, 15-7)
1990: Union-Endicott d. Maine-Endwell 2-1 (14-16, 16-14, 15-8)
1989: Chenango Valley d. Owego 2-0 (15-9, 15-4)
1988: Vestal d. Chenango Valley 2-0 (15-4, 17-15)
1987: Union-Endicott d. Chenango Valley 2-0 (15-5, 15-13)
1986: Union-Endicott d. Maine-Endwell 2-0 (15-12, 15-4)
1985: Owego d. Maine-Endwell 2-0 (15-5, 15-6)
1984: Johnson City d. Binghamton 2-0 (15-13, 15-12)
1983: Owego d. Ithaca 2-0 (15-7, 15-12)
1982: Chenango Valley d. Binghamton 2-0 (15-6, 15-13)
1981: Owego d. Chenango Valley 2-0 (15-6, 15-6)
1980: Binghamton Central d. Binghamton North 2-0 (15-0, 15-13)
1979: Owego d. Binghamton North 2-0 (15-11, 15-2)
1978: Maine-Endwell d. Chenango Valley 2-1 (16-14, 10-15, 15-10)
1977: Maine-Endwell d. Susquehanna Valley 2-0 (15-4, 15-8)
1976: Maine-Endwell **
1975: Maine-Endwell **
1974: Cortland & Maine-Endwell **
1973: Cortland **
1972: Homer d. Maine-Endwell 2-0 (15-12, 15-11)
1971: Maine-Endwell **
* In 2006, STAC became a unified conference for volleyball, as West schools competed in the fall without a championship previously. The rest competed in the winter with a championship. Once they unified to all compete in the fall, there were technically two champions crowned just for 2006.
** No championship game; finished 1st in division
STAC Championships by School:
Owego – 18 (2024, 2023, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2008, 2005, 1997, 1991, 1985, 1983, 1981, 1979)
Vestal – 9 (2022, 2010, 2009, 2004, 2001, 1998, 1993, 1992, 1988)
Union-Endicott – 9 (2006, 2003, 2002, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1990, 1987, 1986)
Maine-Endwell – 6 (1978, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1971)
Ithaca – 3 (2025, 2000, 1999)
Horseheads – 3 (2021, 2007, 2006)
Chenango Valley – 2 (1989, 1982)
Cortland – 2 (1974, 1973)
Windsor – 1 (2018)
Johnson City – 1 (1984)
Binghamton Central – 1 (1980)
Homer – 1 (1972)