Anna overcomes jitters, VASJ back in championship form
Tenth ranked Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph defeated number seven Huron 25-22, 25-10, 25-22 in the nightcap Division III semifinal yesterday. In doing so, the Vikings became the only 2005 champion who will defend a crown in today’s finals, where they will face Anna in a rematch of last year’s semifinal when the jittery Rockets succumbed 25-16, 25-20, 25-16.
The two finalists have most of last year’s teams back, but VASJ has for most of the year been without the services of star setter Colleen Lynch who suffered a stress fracture. She returned around midseason as a hitter, and only recently felt comfortable resuming her setting role.
Even in districts the Vikings were experimenting with lineup adjustments, and they struggled with talented Independence and Elyria Catholic. They returned to last year’s form with a big regional win over undefeated fourth ranked Smithville, and if yesterday’s win over Huron is an indicator, perhaps they should be favored today.
The Vikings are deep with hitters. Their three all-Ohioans, Hannah Groudle, Hailey Martin and Margo Amigoni had 11, 10 and 10 kills respectively. But their leader against Huron was unheralded junior Tiana Vuyacih, who had 14.
Amigoni led the defense with eight digs, while Lynch, a Third Team All-Ohio selection last year, had 36 assists and eight digs.
Huron hitting sensation Sara Sage topped all players with 25 kills, many of them the kind you’d expect to see at UCLA, to which she has verbally committed. Susie Isphording added 15.
Viking coach Mark Royer said his team dealt with Sage in two ways. First, they tried to try to involve her in the defense as much as possible, sending serves her way whenever possible. More importantly, they accepted the fact she was going to get her kills, and did not get rattled. He added “I’ve got some great players on my team and they’re going to get their kills”.
Game one was close with eight ties, but Huron led only once at 7-4. VASJ broke from the last one to a 22-18 lead on two kills and a block by Groudle and a kill by Vuyancih. Sage retorted with three blasts, but Vuyancih ended that run and Amanda Cramer served up an ace. Sage score one more, after which and Amigoni ended the game with a kill.
Game two was all Vikings who led 2-0, 4-1, 8-3, and 14-4 after Amigoni started a run that she served with a kill.
The final game was like the first with seven ties, and although VASJ trailed only once they never shook the Tigers. Their biggest margin was 16-12, at which point Sage led a three point run to cut it to one. Soon after, Isphording scored two kills to again make it a one point game at 20-19.
Lynch spiked a set from Amigoni to put VASJ up 22-20, and Martin spiked a kill in between two more missives from Isphording. But a block by Martin and Lynch put the Vikings on the edge, and Vuyancih sent them to the final.
Top ranked Anna was again jittery in game one yesterday, but overcame them in game two, prompting a fan to say “they had butterflies as big as pterodactyls, but now they have them all flying in formation”. The Rockets ousted unbeaten third rated Albany Alexander, which was making its first ever state appearance but was not jittery, 18-25, 25-14, 25-13, 25-19.
Alexander came out firing against Anna. Led by lone senior Jami Turrill with 14 kills, and sophomore Whitney Smith with 12, they never trailed in game one. It looked like Anna was rolling when they rallied to a tie at 13, from a 9-4 deficit. But Alexander kept their poise, as they edged back in front and burst it open at the end.
Anna never trailed again the rest of the match, and there was only one tie. The Rockets were led by 6’3” senior Kelli Barhorst with 24 kills. Sophomore Laura Gehret, who coach Karen Zumberger said “some teams forget about…but she’s grown a lot and handles pressure well”, added 15 and senior Rachel Billing had 9. Sophomore setter Kelsie Zumberger had 31 assists.
The Rockets defense was balanced with four players in double figures, led by Billing with 20 and Emily Stewart with 18.
Alexander also had four diggers in doubles with libero Lauren Thomas topping the charts at 22. Sophomore Lauren Raines had 30 assists.
Can you believe the sophomores on these teams?
The two finalists have most of last year’s teams back, but VASJ has for most of the year been without the services of star setter Colleen Lynch who suffered a stress fracture. She returned around midseason as a hitter, and only recently felt comfortable resuming her setting role.
Even in districts the Vikings were experimenting with lineup adjustments, and they struggled with talented Independence and Elyria Catholic. They returned to last year’s form with a big regional win over undefeated fourth ranked Smithville, and if yesterday’s win over Huron is an indicator, perhaps they should be favored today.
The Vikings are deep with hitters. Their three all-Ohioans, Hannah Groudle, Hailey Martin and Margo Amigoni had 11, 10 and 10 kills respectively. But their leader against Huron was unheralded junior Tiana Vuyacih, who had 14.
Amigoni led the defense with eight digs, while Lynch, a Third Team All-Ohio selection last year, had 36 assists and eight digs.
Huron hitting sensation Sara Sage topped all players with 25 kills, many of them the kind you’d expect to see at UCLA, to which she has verbally committed. Susie Isphording added 15.
Viking coach Mark Royer said his team dealt with Sage in two ways. First, they tried to try to involve her in the defense as much as possible, sending serves her way whenever possible. More importantly, they accepted the fact she was going to get her kills, and did not get rattled. He added “I’ve got some great players on my team and they’re going to get their kills”.
Game one was close with eight ties, but Huron led only once at 7-4. VASJ broke from the last one to a 22-18 lead on two kills and a block by Groudle and a kill by Vuyancih. Sage retorted with three blasts, but Vuyancih ended that run and Amanda Cramer served up an ace. Sage score one more, after which and Amigoni ended the game with a kill.
Game two was all Vikings who led 2-0, 4-1, 8-3, and 14-4 after Amigoni started a run that she served with a kill.
The final game was like the first with seven ties, and although VASJ trailed only once they never shook the Tigers. Their biggest margin was 16-12, at which point Sage led a three point run to cut it to one. Soon after, Isphording scored two kills to again make it a one point game at 20-19.
Lynch spiked a set from Amigoni to put VASJ up 22-20, and Martin spiked a kill in between two more missives from Isphording. But a block by Martin and Lynch put the Vikings on the edge, and Vuyancih sent them to the final.
Top ranked Anna was again jittery in game one yesterday, but overcame them in game two, prompting a fan to say “they had butterflies as big as pterodactyls, but now they have them all flying in formation”. The Rockets ousted unbeaten third rated Albany Alexander, which was making its first ever state appearance but was not jittery, 18-25, 25-14, 25-13, 25-19.
Alexander came out firing against Anna. Led by lone senior Jami Turrill with 14 kills, and sophomore Whitney Smith with 12, they never trailed in game one. It looked like Anna was rolling when they rallied to a tie at 13, from a 9-4 deficit. But Alexander kept their poise, as they edged back in front and burst it open at the end.
Anna never trailed again the rest of the match, and there was only one tie. The Rockets were led by 6’3” senior Kelli Barhorst with 24 kills. Sophomore Laura Gehret, who coach Karen Zumberger said “some teams forget about…but she’s grown a lot and handles pressure well”, added 15 and senior Rachel Billing had 9. Sophomore setter Kelsie Zumberger had 31 assists.
The Rockets defense was balanced with four players in double figures, led by Billing with 20 and Emily Stewart with 18.
Alexander also had four diggers in doubles with libero Lauren Thomas topping the charts at 22. Sophomore Lauren Raines had 30 assists.
Can you believe the sophomores on these teams?
posted by ohiohsvbfan at 6:21 AM
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