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Neither team was supposed to be there.
Both teams proved why they deserved
to be there.
The IESA 8A volleyball regional
championship, held last night at Hartsburg High School, was awarded
to Carroll Catholic after they won a hard-fought battle with their
west-side rivals from West Lincoln-Broadwell. In a three-game match
that lasted approximately an hour and a half, Carroll outlasted WL-
by a match score of 13-15, 15-11 and 15-11. While neither team was
"seeded" to be in the finals, it was readily apparent why both teams
were actually there in spite of being underestimated. Both teams
showed a great deal of "heart" and both played with great
"attitudes."
WL-B captured game one by starting
off with a substantial run of points that found them well ahead of
Carroll. Carroll quickly fought back and closed the gap. After
numerous side-out exchanges WL-B ran off their own series of points,
bringing them to 13, and then had to hold off a late surge by
Carroll, to win game one by a score of 15-13.
Game two was a back-and-forth affair
until about its midway point. Some good consistent serving by
Carroll and the inability to manage those serve returns by WL-B led
to Carroll pulling away to even the match score at a one game each.
In game three, the momentum seemed
to have swung in favor of Carroll, which eventually found itself up
14-7. The WL-B girls decided they weren't quite ready to end their
season and fought their way through numerous match points to get the
score to 14-11. The match ended after a tremendous rally where
players from both teams were found diving all over the court,
digging balls out of nowhere and giving their last gasp of energy,
until finally a hit from Carroll could not be returned by WL-B and
the match was over.
[to top of second column in this article] |
 I could single out people from each
team who had great individual efforts, but I choose not to in this
article. Doing that would, I think, in this case, diminish the total
team effort of both teams. Instead, permit me for once to give
credit to each team's entire team and the heart and good attitudes
reflected last night.
Carroll Catholic's team
consisted of Cara Reed, Vanessa Ruff, Samantha Lowman, Kayla
Jenkins, Hannah McShane, Amy Kelley, Kara O'Donoghue, Stephanie
Erickson, Abbie Cameron and Hannah Sheley.
West Lincoln Broadwell's team
consisted of Hilary Hobler, Molly Goodrich, Laura Aughenbaugh,
Felicia Jackson, Leah Shirley, Brittany Colby, Christa Burge,
Heather Goodwin, Paige Boyer, Katrina Schreiner, Abby Olson and
Erica Bradley.
Congratulations to the Carroll
Catholic Crusaders, with their "never give up" attitudes, for their
regional championship. Congratulations to West Lincoln-Broadwell for
their excellent performance and giving it their all. And may I add,
congratulations to Lincoln Community High School, who will inherit
all of the eighth-grade girls from both of these teams (as well as
their other "feeder" schools) to continue the already great Lady
Railer volleyball tradition. Good luck, Crusaders, as you move on to
the sectionals on Monday!
[Rick
Hobler]
Respond to the writer at
rhobler@lccs.edu.
Notes:
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Carroll Catholic
individual statistics are below.
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Carroll Catholic will
play at A-C Central, Chandlerville, at 6 p.m. Monday.
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Click here for Class 8A
sectional matchups.
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