DIVISION III VOLLEYBALL Girard eliminates Maplewood

Champion and Brookfield went down to the wire before the Golden Flashes prevailed in three games.
By DOUG CHAPIN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BRACEVILLE -- Familiar rivals will meet again Wednesday in the Division III volleyball district final after Trumbull Athletic Conference members Girard and Champion won matches Monday at LaBrae Middle School.
Girard, the second seed, dispatched top-seeded Maplewood, 15-9, 15-11, while third-seeded Champion eliminated unseeded Brookfield, 15-10, 6-15, 15-13, in semifinal matches.
Girard and Champion split their two matches in the regular season.
Junior middle hitter Tealle Hunkus dominated Monday for Girard (18-6), recording 18 kills, five blocks and four digs.
"That was a pretty standard game for Tealle. She hits well as long as she keeps it down," Girard coach Phil Walters said.
Walters praised two girls who stepped into different roles because senior middle hitter Stephanie Scarnecchia missed the game with an illness. Senior Katie Vesely moved into Scarnecchia's position and freshman Brittany Kay started and played well.
Vesely contributed six kills, including a pair that keyed a Girard run which opened a 9-7 lead to 14-7 in the second game. Freshman setter Erin Stevens had 13 points, three aces and 21 assists. Janeen Delgenio added six digs.
"After a half a game or so we started falling into it better," Walters said about Girard's slow start.
The Indians trailed 7-6 in the first game and led just 10-9 before Stevens served the last five points of the game.
"We knew Maplewood would give us a run," added Walters.
Maplewood (21-3) has been eliminated two years in a row by Girard after having won four consecutive district titles.
Christen Clemson had six points, two aces and two blocks. Toni Darocha recorded 13 assists and Krista Finch had four kills.
Champion-Brookfield: Champion's victory was one of huge momentum swings between two teams very familiar with each other.
"Our first match with Brookfield they won in three games, but the second time we won in two games," Champion coach Cindy Smith said. "We definitely expected this match to be close."
Brookfield, which knocked off fourth-seeded Mineral Ridge last week in the sectional, jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first game. The Golden Flashes clawed their way back into the game but trailed 10-6 after Juli Alter put away one of her 14 kills for the Warriors.
Hillary Pegg then sparked Champion with four kills and a block as the Flashes ran off the last nine points of the game. Pegg, a senior middle hitter, ended with 22 kills, six blocks and seven digs.
Brookfield regained the momentum in game two, breaking open a 5-5 game for the 15-6 victory.
"I have 100 percent confidence in my team," Smith said. "I can feel when they are going to play well. You can feel them gain momentum. But you can also feel it when it's not there."
That momentum went back and forth in the last game. Brookfield led 3-0, before Champion rallied for an 8-6 lead. Brookfield went back in front, 11-8, and led 13-9 before the Flashes rallied to win. Jennifer Seifert and Michelle Canatsey both recorded a couple of key kills in the rally.
"In the last timeout I reminded them that two years ago we were in the same situation against Middlefield Cardinal and lost," Smith said. "They were not willing to pour their hearts out on the court and lose again."
Senior setter Rosie Holmes was instrumental for Champion (15-6) serving for 12 points and recording 33 assists. Canatsey added 17 kills, 17 digs, two blocks and eight points. Velda Morrison also had 12 digs.
Alter added two blocks to her 14 kills for Brookfield (13-10). Jen Ford scored 15 points, Regina Deramo had 10 assists and 13 digs, Karey Gibson had 19 assists and 13 digs and Jessica Zebroski had 35 digs and eight kills.