CR North defeated Upper Dublin in Tuesday’s District One 4A volleyball semifinals. Photos provided courtesy of Jon Sklut. Check back for a gallery of photos.
#3 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 3, #15 UPPER DUBLIN 0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-23)
Tuesday’s all-SOL District One 4A semifinal ensured that the league would be represented in Thursday’s final for the first time since Plymouth Whitemarsh finished second to Bishop Shanahan in 2016. It was the Indians keeping their perfect record intact with a sweep of the visiting Flying Cardinals.
It is the best finish for the Indians – who finished third in 2016 – since Michael Adams took over the helm. The Indians will travel to top-seeded Unionville for Thursday’s title match. Only the winner will advance to the state tournament.
“We’ve had the talent in the past and just haven’t put it all together at times,” Adams said. “District One is super competitive. We’ve had the fifth place team win the state tournament out of the district. It’s whoever shows up and plays the best when you get to the state tournament.
“That’s why it’s a shame it comes down to this one match in districts of definitely two of the best teams in the whole state.”
Making the Indians’ accomplishments even more impressive is the fact that they’ve had to overcome one obstacle after another during this COVID-19 pandemic shortened season.
“We missed time during the season – we’ve had two different times where we stopped for seven or eight days and another for 12 days where we did nothing,” Adams said. “No volleyball, no practices, no matches, nothing.
“We started late. We are not even halfway through a normal season in my eyes. It’s different.”
In Tuesday’s sweep, junior outside hitter Ashleigh Adams was once again a dominant force at the net, finishing with 16 kills, eight digs, one ace andone block. Junior setter Kate Logan – who had 23 assists, two aces, three digs, one block and one kill – is one of the pleasant surprises on this year’s team,
“Our setter, Kate Logan, is our most improved – she’s just phenomenal,” Adams said. “She can run so many different types of offense – tempos and things.
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“She wasn’t doing that at the start of the season, and with so few practices and matches, she’s a difference maker. We are able to mix things up and do things – I’ve had tons of setters over the past 25-plus years of coaching. She’s just awesome and a great person too.”
Senior outside hitter Mary Baniewicz had four kills, eight digs, two aces and two blocks, and senior middle hitter Julia Walton had four kills, one ace and two blocks while middle hitter Sabrina Pasemann contributed two kills and two blocks. Senior libero Mikayla Adams had 11 digs to lead the defense. She also had two assists and one ace. Senior opposite hitter Cora Lake chipped in one kill and three digs, and sophomore opposite hitter Ainsley Jordan added three digs and one ace.
“Pretty much all of them I’ve coached since they were young in club volleyball since they were 12-13 years old,” Adams said. “They’re just super developed, and their volleyball IQ is awesome.
“They’re great players, and they’re great kids. It’s an absolute pleasure to be out there with them.”
Council Rock North (14-0, 10-0 SOL) will travel to Unionville for Thursday’s District One 4A title game at 6 p.m. In preparation for the match at Unionville – where masts are required for players, the Indians have been wearing masks for practices and also Tuesday’s game.
“Just knowing our goal is to get there and beat them if we can – we need to be as comfortable in whatever situation we will be in,” Adams said. “If they’re requiring masks – guess what? We’ve been practicing in them. Let’s go, so it doesn’t faze you at all. It’s just a part of the game.”
Upper Dublin closed out its season with an 8-5 record overall (6-4 SOL).
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