VOLLEYBALL Spartans regroup to go 9-0

Boardman was extended by Canton GlenOak before winning 15-13 in the deciding game.
By JOHN BUTERA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN -- Getting ready for an important Steel Valley Conference match-up against Austintown Fitch next week, the Boardman High volleyball team got a scare Thursday night before regrouping to edge visiting Canton GlenOak 15-8, 6-15, 15-13.
The win extended Boardman's (9-0) best start in school history.
"They're state-ranked," Boardman coach Ron Slipkasky said of GlenOak (5-2). "I knew they were a good team. Our next match is against Fitch, and while we are obviously looking forward to that, we certainly weren't looking past this match."
Nice plays: With the score of the first game tied at 4, Boardman began to assert itself, and behind two nice plays from Mara Capraruolo and another from Jen Hlebovy the Spartans took a 7-4 lead.
GlenOak hung around however, pulling within one as it got one marker each on three separate possessions.
Ahead 8-7, Boardman began to pull away behind spikes from Jen Feret and Colleen Lozano. From here, the Spartans coasted to a 15-8 win.
Boardman never seemed to get on track in game two, falling behind 3-0 and 9-2 before using a pair of untouched serves from Capraruolo to cut the gap to 9-6.
However, GlenOak ran off the final six points for the 15-6 decision.
"In that first game we made very few mistakes," Slipkasky said.
"We played a very good volleyball game. In the second [game] it was a combination of us letting down a little bit and them coming right back."
Fell behind: Game three appeared to be a replay as Boardman trailed 8-3 and then 11-6.
A 'dink' from Lauren Craig pulled the Spartans within two, 11-9, and another 'dink' by Hlebovy tied the score at 11.
Two more good plays from Hlebovy helped Boardman to an 13-12 edge, before GlenOak tied the game for the final time at 13.
Capraruolo had four aces, 12 points, 12 kills and seven blocks while Hlebovy contributed nine kills.
Feret, who had 13 kills and seven digs, said, "I don't know about the rest of the team, but I had confidence we were going to come back and I knew we could do it.
"I just remember all at once we got pumped and were ready."