DIVISION III VOLLEYBALL Girard wins third straight title

The Indians toppled Brookfield 15-9, 15-9 in the district final.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BRACEVILLE -- Don't misunderstand.
Girard High volleyball coach Phil Walters is a huge fan of Tealle Hunkus. She's his niece, after all, and he's the first to tell you that she was a pleasure to coach.
It's just that when Girard made its run to the state tournament last season, it was hard for the Indians to shake the assumption that they were a one-player team.
"We all played in the shadow of Tealle," Walters said. "She was a wonderful player, but you have to realize that there's six people on the court."
So, when Hunkus graduated and moved on to Duke University, everyone assumed the Indians would be hard-pressed to win a third straight district title.
Which was fine with Walters.
"I like to be overlooked," he said.
Advances to regionals
The doubters were wrong, of course, and Girard proved it on Wednesday, beating Trumbull Athletic Conference rival Brookfield for the third time this season, 15-9, 15-9, in the Division III district final at LaBrae Middle School.
"We've played a lot of up and down volleyball this season and sometimes we need our backs to the wall before we start playing," Walters said. "I don't know why that is."
It was certainly true on Wednesday, as the Indians rallied from early deficits in both matches before pulling away.
Erin Stevens had 25 assists, Nicole Melfi had five digs and Brittany Kay had seven points and two aces to lead the Indians (17-9), who have won three straight district titles.
Walters, however, reserved his highest praise for senior co-captain Kristen Ragozine, who had nine kills.
"I kept looking around and saying, 'Who was that?' " Walters said with a smile. "She was zoning."
Play Columbiana next
The Indians play Columbiana Wednesday in regional semifinal at Barberton High School.
Jessica Zebroski had 15 digs and five kills and Rachel Pasquerilla had 14 assists for Brookfield (14-8). Laura Klouse added five kills and Katie Miller had five points.
"We started this tournament prepared to play them in the final," said first-year Brookfield coach Bob Calvin. "They're just our Achilles heel this year. They have our number."
scalzo@vindy.com