Hubbard wins easily

The Eagles disposed of Poland in short order to win the Division II district crown.
By MARK W. MILLER
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- It took just a half hour for the Hubbard High volleyball team to dispose of Poland in the Division II district championship match Thursday at Boardman High School.
District experience, powerful serving and overall volleyball savvy were the difference as the Eagles (26-1) posted a 15-2, 15-1 victory over the Bulldogs (14-11).
In game one, junior setter Nicole Pringle of Hubbard scored the first three points, with an ace and after a ball exchange, Katy Jo Mroski, 6-foot-2 middle hitter, served for a 4-0 lead.
11-point run: After Erin Mulligan served two points for the Bulldogs, Hubbard ran off 11 straight points for the win.
The Eagles scored three points to open the second game and after Kristen Stanyard scored a point for Poland, Hubbard finished the match with a 12-point surge, which included six service points from Pringle (three aces). Amy Falhamer got the final two points.
"We served a very, very tough game and that put a lot of pressure on them," said Hubbard coach Chuck Montgomery.
"We didn't make any errors [and] hit the ball hard inbounds. Our kids were in the right place wherever the ball was hit.
"The girls work hard in practices and that's a determining factor. There was a lot of desire and intensity, they really wanted it."
High expectations: Montgomery said, "We've been to district six years and that experience helped. We have high expectations. The kids earned the title with a lot of off-season work."
Pringle finished with 11 points, which included five aces and she had 19 assists. Mroski had eight kills and eight digs and Falhamer had seven kills. Courtney Hoch and Amanda Lingenfelter each had nine digs, and Traci Hassell had nine assists.
Poland's Mulligan had six digs, two kills and two assists. Lori Delsignore and Kari Bell each had seven digs.
"The difference from Tuesday was they served well in the gaps and it stopped us from getting into our flow of the game," said Poland coach Fred Smith. "I think we were a little bit too prepared, but Hubbard is a great team that didn't do anything wrong."