Check below for a recap of all the SOL teams in action on Thursday night. To view photos of the Upper Merion/PW match, visit the photo gallery at the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/
KING OF PRUSSIA – Liz DiValerio’s eyes lit up.
Upper Merion’s senior outside hitter knew she was onto something, and the Vikings – behind DiValerio’s monster effort at the net – rallied for a win in game three in Thursday night’s District One AAA Tournament second round game against Plymouth Whitemarsh on their way to a 3-1 win that sent the Colonials home for the season (25-13, 13-25, 25-21, 25-14).
“They played really good in that second game, and we had a lot of bad luck – serves between us, miscommunicating,” DiValerio said. “In the third game, we had more confidence, and also their block was more spread out, so it was easier to hit through.”
DiValerio repeatedly found the hole in PW’s block, finishing the night with a match-high 22 kills. None were more significant than her kills down the stretch in the pivotal third game.“There ended up being a huge hole in our double blocks,” PW coach Michael Nguyen said. “Our double block needs to seal, and it just couldn’t get out there.
“We had to adjust our defense to our lack of double blocking, but it wasn’t enough.”
The two teams were deadlocked 18-18 after a block by PW’s Alex Griffin. A Cassidy Koenig service ace put the Vikings on top 20-18, and then DiValerio went to work.
First, she delivered a tip that fell in for a winner, and she followed that with a kill. Griffin answered with a kill for PW, but another DiValerio kill put the Vikings on top 23-19.
“That’s why she’s player of the year in the American Conference,” Viking coach Tony Funsten said of DiValerio. “She keeps getting better. Liz still has not played as good as she can play, but she’s getting better, she’s getting healthy, and she’s a senior who’s just making the plays.”
PW’s Meghan Lawrence broke the momentum temporarily with a tip, but Devyn Ingram, who had 18 kills in a brilliant supporting role, slammed home a kill that made it a 24-20 game. The Vikings won it when Abbie Demcher delivered a block at the middle of the net.
Earlier in the match, the Vikings rolled to a 25-13 win in game one.
“Our passing was off, so that killed us,” PW junior Devon Maugle said.
Upper Merion coach Tony Funsten credited his team’s defense.
“In that first game defensively, Shannon Phillips, my libero, was lights out,” the Vikings’ coach said. “It’s as good a libero game as we have had. She was fabulous, but the lack of experience – she wasn’t able to sustain that, and we needed that sustained.”
In game two, the Colonials returned the favor.
They went on top 16-10 after back-to-back Maugle winners, and they led 17-11 when junior Layla Takyeldin stepped to the service line and reeled off six straight points – a run that culminated with a monster kill by Maugle, who had a team high 13 in the match.
The Colonials never looked back, and the PW fans were on their feet as the two teams exchanged sides between games.
“We lost our concentration, but that’s why you play the best of five because you’re going to have games like that,” Funsten said. “That was the worst we have lost a game all year. We usually get a run somewhere.
“That was just – wrap it up, throw it away and start again.”
Even the usually raucous Viking fans were unusually quiet after the third game.
“They feel our tension,” Ingram said. “They feel everything we feel on the court.
“It was nerveracking. It’s hard when another team’s momentum is really up, and your momentum is not there at all, but we play so well as a team that we just come back from that.”
“It was really scary,” DiValerio added. “I just knew if I talked to them and kept our spirits up, we could take the third game and the rest of the match. Everybody stepped up.”
The third game was a war. Neither team could seize control. An Ingram kill made it an 11-9 game, and the Vikings went on top 15-11 after back-to-back kills by Alex Galdi and Ingram.
The Colonials rallied to knot the score 18-18, but then DiValerio began finding holes in their defense. Things were never the same.
Once the Vikings regained momentum, they never lost it.
In game four, Koenig, who had 39 assists, served for four straight points to put the Vikings on top 5-0. They led 10-2 after an Ingram kill.
“We were hitting around the block, and we were playing smarter than we were before,” Ingram said. “Volleyball is all a mentality. You have to keep a steady mental game because if you don’t do that you’re going to take yourself out of the game and you’re going to play worse.
“As a team, we do that a little bit, but we’re really good at getting out of it.”
The Colonials would get no closer than six the rest of the way as the Vikings rolled to the big win.
“Our momentum was up in the second game,” Maugle said. “The third game could have gone either way, but at critical times – some of our blocking killed us.
“You have to either fill the hole or go to your position. It can go either way, so you have to be ready for everything.”
Nguyen bids farewell to six seniors – Emily Phipps, Alycia Sabol, Danielle DeSantis, Christina Pettet, Jenn Bokoski and Katherine Keefer.
“It’s going to be a huge loss for us,” the PW coach said. “We had some height in the middle which most teams would have died for.
“We also had a really good libero (Phipps) who sacrificed her entire body for the team. She’s been through so much with injuries because of the way she plays all-out. She’s definitely going to be missed next year.”
Hatboro-Horsham (4) 3, Mount St. Joe’s (13) 1 (25-21, 24-26, 25-19, 25-15)
In an evenly-played match, the Hatters were sparked by the 18-kill, 18-dig effort of Ashley Morgan. Julie Harvey added 10 kills, and Lauren Schmickle had 52 assists and four blocks.
“The Mount played awesome defense,” coach Diane Lucas said. “It was hard to find the floor.
“A lot of the change in this game was confidence and momentum. Both teams were equally talented, and both teams played tough defense and had good offense. Neither team made a lot of errors, and it came down to confidence and momentum.
“We were able to take it early, and we ran with it. It was difficult for the Mount to get it back.”
In Tuesday’s quarterfinal round, Hatboro will host fifth seeded Unionville – a 3-0 winner over Villa Maria.
Council Rock North (6) 3, Strath Haven (11) 2 (25-16, 19-25, 25-18, 19-25, 15-6)
In the night’s most riveting match, Rock North needed five games to down a spirited Haven squad.
“Tonight’s match definitely goes down as one of the most exciting matches I have ever coached,” Rock North coach Kinsey Lynch said. “The girls played unbelievably, and they had a huge comeback in the fourth game – one in which I think they proved to themselves they can do anything if they set their minds to it.”
Lynch credited the serving of Dani Borgia, who also had 20 digs, for bringing the Indians back in game four.
“I have never seen a kid so focused on bringing her team back from behind the end line,” the Indians’ coach said. “She knew we needed her, and she stepped to the plate.
“Her attitude and determination rubbed off on the rest of the team. It’s amazing how one good play leads to another. Sometimes you have to be knocked down a little bit to get better. Although we didn’t win that game, the momentum carried us into the fifth game.
“They were on fire. They wanted to win and played confidently, like they had something to prove. This was huge for the kids going into next week’s competition.”
Sarah Kiely had a monster night at the middle of the net, finishing with 16 kills, 15 blocks, 10 digs and four aces.
“Talk about unstoppable – her stats were the best I have seen all year,” Lynch said. “I kept teasing her about what she ate before the match because she was playing with such energy. I came to find out that all it takes is a chicken Caesar salad made by mom – with love of course!”
The Indians received big performances from just about everyone in their lineup. Setter Jackie Davies had 43 assists, five kills and nine digs. Caroline Anderson had a big night defensively, contributing 14 digs, four assists and seven kills. Bailey Dowd had 13 kills and five blocks while Rachel Friedman had nine kills and a team-high 22 digs.
“I am so proud of this team and feel honored to coach them,” Lynch said. “We are going to keep practicing and prepare ourselves for a tough match against Penncrest.
“This team truly has the capabilities to go all the way but know they have to earn it, one point at a time.”
The Indians will face the tournament’s third seed on Tuesday night at Penncrest.
Pennsbury (8) 3, Kennett (9) 0 (25-15, 25-19, 30-28)
Take away a fiercely contested third game, and the Falcons were in complete command of their second round match against Kennett.
“The girls came out ready to play, and they played very, very well, especially the first two games,” coach Tim Paulson said. “I’m very pleased.”
Senior captain Drew Jolly led a balanced attack with 11 kills. Sydney Aizen and Lauren Pisauro both added eight kills.
“Sydney Aizen did amazing,” Paulson said. “She was composed under pressure. She had eight kills and no errors. She did fantastic.”
In the third game, senior captain Paige Hensor, who led the defense with 10 digs, contributed three of her team-high six aces when the Falcons needed them the most.
“Three of those came when we were down, and she brought us back and tied it up and gave us the lead,” Paulson said. “She went back in a pressure situation and served three aces in a row.”
The eighth seeded Falcons have earned a date with the tournament’s top-seeded team on Tuesday. Bishop Shanahan swept Downingtown East in three games on Thursday.
“We have a real tough draw the next game,” Paulson said. “Bishop Shanahan is an amazing team. They don’t have a weakness that I’m aware of.
“That will be quite a challenge, but they’re up for it. They’re ready. They’re hungry.”
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