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West Branch earns trip to District 6 title game and berth in PIAA playoffs
Friday, November 06, 2009
By Jaclyn Yingling Sports Editor
NORTHERN CAMBRIA - Last season, the Bishop Guilfoyle volleyball team dashed the undefeated West Branch volleyball team's hope of a state playoff berth.
This year, the Lady Warriors weren't about to let that happen again.
West Branch dominated most of the match on Thursday and swept BG 25-13, 25-18 and 25-17 to earn its first PIAA and District 6 Class A title berth all in one night.
"We were spirited," said West Branch head coach Terry Trude. "BG played a great defensive game. We needed that. We got a little bit tentative in Game 3, but we pulled it together halfway through.
"Jada Larson had a big night. She played smart and she had 12 kills. With our four big hitters, that how it usually is, one person is usually on. I'm happy for the kids. They've worked so hard to get to the district finals. We haven't been there before, but it guarantees us a state playoff trip, and that's been a big goal of ours."
West Branch charged out to an early 11-5 lead, thanks to a six-point service run from Mariah McDowell.
Bishop Guilfoyle continued to do its best to stop the big front row of the Lady Warriors, but couldn't overcome the early deficit, and fell in the first set, 25-13.
"West Branch is an excellent volleyball team," said Lady Marauder head coach Bob Kasun. "All of the accomplishments and rankings they are getting are well-deserved. I want to congratulate them and wish them good luck on Saturday.
"I was very proud we didn't give up. You aren't always going to win every game. There is only going to be one state champion in each of the classifications, and only one team leaves with a smile on their faces.
Unfortunately, we came out on the losing end tonight. But we did play very hard. I didn't question their effort. They played very hard and lost to a better team."
The Lady Warriors grabbed the lead in the second set on a five-point run by Sloan Sample. But West Branch was hampered by service errors most of the game, leaving the Lady Marauders a chance to get back in the game.
The Lady Warriors had 11 service errors in the match.
"I was surprised," said Trude. "We had been serving well the past two games. I think it was nerves.
"Their floats were just sailing. We just didn't serve as well as we are capable of. Sloan pulled it together and had a big run there. She hit her spots, and that's why we were pretty successful."
Larson and Melissa Lake each had three kills in the set, while setter Leann Bell dumped off two balls during the set that weren't returned.
West Branch eventually won the second set 25-18.
Bishop Guilfoyle led the third set from the beginning, pulling out to a 9-6 lead on two service points from Alyssa Luther.
The Lady Marauders kept the lead, until the Lady Warriors tied the game at 15-15 on serves from Victoria Jarrett.
A net violation by West Branch gave BG a sideout and a 17-16 lead, but it didn't last long.
Sample served up the final nine points of the game to complete a Lady Warriors' comeback and set the final at 25-17.
"I thought the girls communicated well," Trude said. "We set a goal to talk more than the other team.
"We had a little bit of trouble on serve-receive initially, but we talked and worked through the problem.
"It's good to win and have a game like this."
Larson had her best set of the night, finishing the third game with six kills. Lake had three kills in the set.
Lake finished with eight kills, while Sample had five kills and 12 digs. Bell had 26 assists.
West Branch improved to 21-0 on the season. The Lady Warriors play Northern Cambria on Saturday in the District 6 title game at Altoona Area High School. The game is set for 1 p.m.
Bishop Guilfoyle finished the season at 15-7.
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