VOLLEYBALL SVC rivals will meet for district title

Wednesday's winner between Austintown Fitch and Boardman will earn a regional tournament berth.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
STOW -- There is little for the Boardman and Austintown Fitch High volleyball teams to learn about each other.
The rivals have played six times in the past two years. They've scouted each other, they've routed each other, they've had chances for revenge, redemption and even a regional tournament berth.
Now they'll do it again.
"I just wish we could play back home," Fitch coach Tom Case said.
The Falcons -- winners of the last three Division I district titles -- beat Stow-Munroe Falls 15-5, 14-16, 15-4 in the first match Monday and will play Boardman Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the district final at Stow High School.
The Spartans (21-3) beat Twinsburg 15-7, 15-9 in the second match.
"I wanted to play Fitch again," Boardman coach Ron Slipkasky said. "I know the girls will get up for the game."
Last year
Fitch (19-4) beat the Spartans four times last year -- Boardman's only four losses of the season -- and won the district title game in straight sets. The Falcons eventually lost in the state semifinal.
But the Spartans won both meetings this season -- earning their first Steel Valley Conference title since 1994 -- and have a chance to win their first district title in school history.
"There are certainly some people who doubt that our area can play good volleyball," Case said. "I think this shows that we can."
Neither team was at its best on Monday, but they played well enough to win.
The Spartans fell behind 4-2 in their first match, but used an 11-0 run to put the game away.
Boardman again started sloppy in the second match, falling behind 3-1, but answered with a 12-2 run. Twinsburg never again threatened.
"I think both matches were a little sloppy," Slipkasky said of the wins by Boardman and Fitch. "We're going to need to communicate better and play with a lot more enthusiasm on Wednesday."
Leaders
Senior Jen Feret -- one of four senior starters -- led the Spartans with eight points, six digs and 11 kills while senior Jen Hlebovy added seven points, five digs and eight kills.
Junior Jaclyn Corroto had four points, 14 assists and three digs and senior Lauren Craig added two blocks and three kills.
The Falcons took a 3-0 lead in their first set against Stow and never trailed. Fitch's Allison Kenney served the final seven points to end the game.
Fitch took a 13-9 lead in the second set and appeared to have the match in hand, but Stow answered with a 5-0 run to take control of the game. But Kenney served nine straight points to open the third set and Stow never threatened.
Senior Katie McDermott, one of four returning starters, had 10 points, seven kills, six blocks and seven digs.
Junior Maggie Case had nine points, 10 kills, five blocks and 26 digs and Stacie Mang added four points, two kills, six digs and 21 assists.
scalzo@vindy.com