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Moshannon Valley gets past Glendale in three sets
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
By Jon Christoff Sports Writer
AMESVILLE - An old sports adage says it's tough to beat a team three times in a season, but the Moshannon Valley volleyball team accomplished the feat on Monday night in the first round of the District 6 Class A playoffs.
The Damsels hosted backyard rival Glendale, which was making its first playoff appearance in school history, and took care of the Lady Vikings in straight sets for the first time this season.
Mo Valley downed Glendale in five games in the first match and four in the second, but the Damsels picked up a pivotal win in the opening set Monday and took control of the match.
Mo Valley won 25-21, 25-10 and 25-20 for its second playoff win in school history.
"Our girls were definitely ready for it," said Damsel head coach Danielle Shutack. "The first time we played them this year, they took us to all five sets. They brought it and played a really good game defensively. The second time we played them, (assistant coach) Walt (Shutack) said it was the best he had ever seen them play.
"I wasn't sure how it was going to go, but we did well tonight all the way around."
The Lady Vikings' serving woes proved costly in the opening set, as Damsel hitting mistakes went uncapitalized. Glendale finished the season with an 8-9 record.
"All in all, I thought this was a good experience," Glendale head coach Kayla Miles said. "We made school history by making the playoffs. On our way here, I've never seen the girls as pumped up as they were, and then it was a whole different story when we got on the court.
"It started off alright, but then they just dug themselves a hole. There were some plays that were really good and then there were some plays ... and it was completely (our) side. It had nothing to do with what Mo Valley was doing."
Despite several missed hits in the opening set, Mo Valley held a decided advantage in the kill department.
The Damsels got things started off on the right foot with strong net play from Taylor Murarik, while Katelyn Zazworsky continued a solid season up front.
Murarik had a kill on the game's first point and a block on the second to set the tone, while Zazworsky finished the night with a game-high 10 kills to go along with a pair of blocks.
Outside hitter Kristi Kephart also joined in on the parade, smacking six kills.
"Overall, in every position, I think we played well," said Shutack. "Offensively, everyone had hits tonight. Kristi really stepped up. She was crushing the ball, which was nice to see. I've never seen her hit the ball like that before.
"Katelyn always come out with the most hits, (and) Taylor did well up front right off the bat. She had four blocks, and I think she had two of them in the third game."
While the Damsels had consistent play at the net, Glendale was struggling.
The Lady Vikings didn't record their first kill until their 15th point of the first set on a Morgan Biddle spike and struggled to get any offense going in the lopsided second.
Ashley Weakland and Ciara Doughty had kills in the set for Glendale, which had just two service points in the frame.
Zazworsky had three kills in the set for Mo Valley and Kephart added a pair, while teammate Vanessa Rowley found the open spot behind the Lady Viking defenders on a pair of pushes.
"I think one of our biggest things was covering the floor defensively," Miles said.
"It was almost as if the girls planted their feet, and I just had to keep saying, ‘move your feet, move your feet,' because when Mo Valley saw there was a spot open, they would nail them every time. I think that's what killed us a lot. We had trouble covering."
Despite finding itself in a two-set hole, Glendale kept battling and put together its best effort in the final game.
The Lady Vikings got kills from Doughty, Weakland and Biddle, while Sara Tarr played a tough set defensively.
"The girls came together (this season) as a team, for the most part, and I'm proud of them," said Miles. "Making it to playoffs was an experience in itself. ... Honestly, I'm excited for next season. Sara Tarr and Morgan Biddle are going to be seniors next year.
"Sara really had her ‘A' game on tonight. She was swinging away, getting kills, and covering really well. She really stepped up tonight, and I was really proud of her."
The Damsels held a decided advantage in serving, as they recorded 43 points to just 21 for the Lady Vikings.
Natasha Hudzy led Mo Valley with 10, and Kephart and Rowley each added eight. Glendale was paced by six from Cassie Spangle and five each from Doughty and Tarr.
The Damsels, who improved to 17-4, travel to Northern Cambria this evening to face fourth-seeded Penns Manor. The match is set to begin at 6.
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