Clippers' great run dedicated to Hura

You meet some of the nicest people down the tournament trail. Take the Columbiana High volleyball team, which dedicated its season to honor their superintendent, Patricia Hura, who died of cancer last month.
No disrespect to the Clippers, but they were about the last team anyone expected to still be spiking the ball in November. They weren't even seeded in the district tournament.
In fact, Columbiana lost eight times in the regular season, which wasn't surprising in that Erin Heasley wasn't promoted to varsity coach until five days before the season.
Unlike just about every other area team, the Clippers had limited preparations. It mattered little in the end.
"I've coached [most of] the kids in softball for the last four-or-five years, so I know them very well," Heasley said. "We had no pre-season, we didn't have a summer to prepare and we still [accomplished a goal]."
The seeds
Springfield, the Inter-County League champion, received the top seed for the Salem High Division III district tournament. Lisbon, the Tri-County League champion, was second. South Range and United, which went to state three years ago, were the other seeds.
"We thought we were going to be competitors in the TCL, but I don't [think] that we expected to come all the way to regionals," senior outside hitter Carly Washinko said.
Columbiana's run was boosted by TCL rival East Palestine, which stunned Springfield (6-15, 15-13, 15-13) in the sectional final. The Clippers took a three-set victory over Lisbon (15-2, 8-15, 16-14).
Columbiana needed two sets to end South Range's season, then defeated Crestview to earn the school's first regional appearance.
Traveling to Barberton, Columbiana split the first two sets with defending regional champion Girard, then fell behind 9-3 and 13-9 against the Indians. Moments later, the Indians had the Clippers at the brink of elimination when Washinko served two points.
Girard couldn't control two more serves, advancing the Clippers to the regional finale.
Great run ended
Saturday, Columbiana's magical run ended against Orrville (26-1), which is ranked number-two among the state's Division III schools.
Coming off a semifinal victory over Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph, the Red Riders won in two sets, but had to work a lot harder than they expected.
Orrville jumped out an 11-0 lead when the Clippers roared to life, scoring eight consecutive points.
Led by junior middle hitter Erica Short (who is being scouted by Ohio State), the Red Riders regained control for a 15-11 win followed by a 15-5 clincher.
Heasley said her advice was "go out and play your best game. If it's good enough, great, we're going to state. And if it's not good enough, seniors, you have nothing to hang your heads about and juniors, you can feed off this good season."
No tears
You might have expected the Columbiana bench to be tear-laden when the clock finally struck midnight on Cinderella's ball. There were none.
"It would have been nice winning the TCL, but this is definitely a good feeling," Washinko said. "It was wonderful experience."
Heasley said she expects the momentum generated will continue.
"I'm sure this will feed off into basketball season and hopefully into softball season. They have a lot to be proud of," Heasley said.
Washinko, Steph Barnes, Ashley Greenawalt, Caitlin Kimble and Jenna Richter will graduate next spring, but Heasley has sophomores Kristina Davidson and Jeni Fast, and juniors Cara Hardenbrook, Whitney Goist, Kylee Crittenden and Mallory Stewart returning.
"Cara, Kylee, Whitney and Kristina all got a lot of quality time [against Orrville] and they're all coming back next year," Heasley said. "They have to capitalize on the situation."
We'll be watching to see how they fare.
XTom Williams is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write to him at williams@vindy.com.