PREP VOLLEYBALL Springfield sweeps home matches

No one was injured when the Western Reserve bus was hit by a truck en route to the matches.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- The Springfield High volleyball team continued its unbeaten record in non-Inter County League matches Wednesday, but at times it wasn't easy.
Springfield defeated Columbiana, 16-14, 15-6, and Canfield, 17-15, 15-8, to improve its record to 15-3.
"At times, we played well," said Tigers coach Bill Knight. "Wins are wins. But that 17-15 game was like pulling teeth."
Leading the way: Freshman Jessica Snyder had nine points to lead Springfield, while Maggie Marsh had six points and eight kills. Brooke Tabaka had two points and three kills in the win over Canfield.
"Sometimes it takes us a while to get our momentum worked up," Tabaka said. "Once we get our momentum going, we pretty much dominate."
Meghan Louttit had 20 assists for the Tigers, who twice reeled off five-point runs in the second game to put Canfield away.
Snyder, who had only served in one other game this year, according to Knight, came off the bench to score seven straight points, turning a 10-6 deficit into a 13-10 lead in the first game.
"I don't understand it, some people just couldn't serve over good," Knight said. "Snyder came in and did a good job."
Jill Vertanen led Canfield with seven kills, seven points, three digs and four aces. Stephanie Bellish added nine assists, four points and two aces for the Cardinals (10-8).
"We kind of ran out of steam," said coach Ronie Haurin, who said the team was coming off an emotional three-set win over Poland on Tuesday. "No doubt, we exerted a lot of energy [Tuesday]."
Comeback: Springfield rallied from an 11-2 deficit in the first game against Columbiana, then rolled up an 8-1 lead to put the Clippers away in the second game.
Tabaka had five kills, Carrie Davis had four kills and two blocks and Wood had two blocks and three kills for the Tigers.
Kelly Vitko had 10 kills and Amanda Allen had 15 assists to lead Columbiana (6-9).
Canfield's match against Western Reserve was delayed for an hour after a dump truck rear-ended the Blue Devils' bus en route to the school.
No one was hurt, but the accident caused substantial damage to the bus. Blue Devil coach Jason Jones declined comment after the game.
"I'm too shook up to talk," he said.
Canfield eventually beat Western Reserve, 15-8, 13-15, 15-5.
Katie Harmon had 26 assists for Western Reserve, while Jen White had six kills and five blocks, Theresa Polack had six kills and Rachel McCammon had five kills and five blocks.
For Canfield, Vertanen had 17 kills and 10 digs, Bellish had 12 points and 16 assists, and Vanessa Schutz had nine digs and 11 kills.
scalzo@vindy.com