VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT Columbiana gains Div. III district title beating Crestview

After being runner-up five times, the Clippers finally advanced.
By JOHN BUTERA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
SALEM -- Finally!
After finishing as a district runner-up five times, Columbiana High got over the hump Wednesday at Salem High School, defeating Crestview, 16-14, 12-15, 15-12, in the Division III district championship.
"It was up and down all night," said Columbiana's Carly Washinko. "We knew we just had to keep up our intensity. Both teams really worked hard the entire night. I mean it was just a wonderful game to play in."
The Clippers, who split with their Tri-County League rivals during the season, play Girard in a regional semifinal Wednesday at Barberton.
Columbiana won a regular season match with Girard in two sets.
The Clippers trailed 12-8 in the last game but rallied to score the final seven points.
Kibby leads Rebels
All night, the Rebels' Katie Kibby was a thorn for Clippers, as the 6-foot-4 senior came up with several big plays.
But Columbiana, behind Washinko, Kara Hardenbrook and Ashley Greenawalt, was able to hold on.
"In the last game we were losing because we weren't passing," Hardenbrook said. "We just tried to relax and calm everyone down. Coming in we thought were overlooked by not being seeded. But we knew we had a shot."
Whitney Goist was all over the court as well for Columbiana (18-8), which, like Crestview (17-7), was unseeded.
In the deciding game, Crestview jumped out 5-1 but then went the next seven possessions without scoring. Columbiana chipped away on the lead, scoring one point on four different serves to tie the score at 5.
Crestview regrouped for its 12-8 lead, but Columbiana -- thanks to a big play from Washinko -- eventually pulled ahead 13-12 before closing out the match.
"We missed some key serves," said Kibby. "But we still came back. In the tournament anything can happen. We didn't win the TCL but we ended up making it here to the finals.
"After that second game, we were motivated. We figured if we could come back from that we could come back from anything."
Dry spell in opener
In the opening game, Crestview answered Columbiana's quick 3-0 start with five points of their own but then went eight straight possessions without a point.
During that time, the Clippers took a 11-5 lead. Crestview closed to within one, 11-10, and tied the score at 13 before Washinko came up big to lead Columbiana to victory.
"When I was a sophomore, we lost in the district finals," said Clippers coach Erin Heasley, a Columbiana graduate, "so I knew what it was like. I love these kids and I just wanted it so bad for them.
"Right now I guess you could say we're jelling. And it couldn't be at a better time."