PREP VOLLEYBALL Resilient Girard earns trip to state tourney

The Indians will play in the state semifinals on Friday at 12:30 p.m. in Dayton.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BARBERTON -- Three points away from an amazing season's end, the Girard High volleyball team rallied for 10 consecutive points and what's believed to be the first state tournament berth for a Trumbull Athletic Conference team.
Trailing Lutheran West 12-5 in the pivotal third game of the Division III regional final Saturday, the Indians (25-3) roared to victory thanks to four serving points by sophomore Brittany Kay and six by classmate Lee McLane.
"Our stubbornness didn't come this far for us to go home this soon," Girard senior outside hitter Beth Hanna said.
When sophomore Erin Stevens recorded the final kill for the 15-5, 13-15, 15-12 triumph at Barberton High School, Girard coach Phil Walters admitted he was wondering "how I was going to get my heart started again. I was shaken, but I didn't want to show any concern to the girls."
Girard will play Sidney Lehman or Plain City Jonathan Alder in the state semifinals Friday at 12:30 p.m. in Dayton.
Asked whether winning the TAC or going to state was sweeter, Walters said he's not sure.
"There has been a huge rivalry between us and Hubbard," Walters said. "To be able to win the TAC would have been huge. We didn't beat Hubbard so I don't know what it would feel like, but I bet it would have been pretty close to what we just did today."
The sets
The Indians and Longhorns waged a seesaw battle that saw Girard jump out to an 11-0 lead in their 15-5 first-game victory.
The Longhorns rebounded in game two, opening up a 9-5 lead before pulling out a 15-13 victory.
"I don't think there was panic," Girard senior middle hitter Tealle Hunkus said. "I'm sure we were nervous, but we knew what we had to do.
"We knew this was it, and that if we didn't get going, that would be the end, and I don't think any of us wanted it to end."
Hunkus, who will play for Duke University next year, finished with 31 kills, seven digs and four points, with three aces.
Stevens made 35 assists and scored seven points. McLane finished with nine points.
"I don't think we relaxed but became nervous," Walters said. "[The Longhorns] picked it up a little bit in the second game. And in the third game, I became a little nervous because they started putting the ball down."
In the decisive set, the Longhorns dominated early, pouncing on the Indians for an 11-2 lead.
"There was no giving up -- there was a lot of game left," Hunkus said.
Walters said, "It's a game of momentum and when you lose it, it's tough to get it back. But [we responded by] playing great."
Walters said he wasn't surprised at the serving success of Kay and McLane.
"Lee and Brittany both have pulled their serving percentage up since the beginning of the season," Walters said. "Brittany is our leading server as far as percentage goes."
Senior outside hitter Kristen Everhart led the Longhorns (24-2) with 11 points and two aces, 10 digs and 17 assists.
williams@vindy.com