PREP VOLLEYBALL Harroff paces Crestview into regional event

The unbeaten Rebels defeated Columbiana to advance in Division III.
By BILL SULLIVAN
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
SALEM -- Crestview High junior Kristen Harroff found the perfect time to play her best volleyball of the season.
Harroff led the undefeated Rebels (24-0) to a four-game win over Columbiana in the Division III district championship Wednesday at Salem High.
Crestview will meet Girard (21-5) in the Barberton High School regional Nov. 4 at 6 p.m.
After losing the first game to Columbiana, 25-23, the Rebels won three straight, 25-20, 25-18, 25-20.
Battled to the end
The unseeded Clippers (16-8) didn't go quietly. Columbiana won last year's Salem district but dropped two five-game matches to the Rebels during the regular season.
"Kristen Harroff played phenomenal," said Alisha Auer, Crestview's first-year coach.
"She really stepped up and played today. She has been peaking the last couple of weeks and this is the time to do it. She's doing a great job."
With the match tied at one game apiece, Harroff took over in the third game.
The Clippers led 14-10 before Harroff ripped off seven straight service points to give her team a 17-14 lead it never relinquished.
Harroff spiked for the 24th point and followed up with a tip for the deciding point.
"I just played as good as I could," Harroff said. "We all played as a team."
Scored final two points
A pair of kills by the 5-foot-5 Harroff resulted in the last two points of the fourth game.
"It felt good," Harroff said. "It felt really great."
Harroff collected 14 kills, 11 points, six digs, four blocks and an ace.
She was not the only Rebel with good statistics -- Tricia Richards finished with eight kills and seven digs, and Michelle Parks produced 10 points, seven kills and two blocks.
"It is very hard to beat a good team three times," Auer said.
"They were well prepared. They knew our weakness. We had to adjust our defense to cover that. In the first game, a lot of tips were falling short so we changed our defense up to cover the tip."
Clippers led early
Led by Cara Hardenbrook, the Clippers took an early lead in the first game and never gave it up.
Hardenbrook had 19 kills, 13 digs, six points and two blocks.
"We had a great run," Columbiana coach Erin Heasley said. "We came into this tournament obviously not seeded.
"We knew we had a test in Crestview. We went five games with them both times we played them this year. We knew we could play with them. We just fell short tonight."
Also for Crestview, sophomore Elyse Mongillo had 40 assists and 17 digs.
Supporting the attack for the Clippers was Brandi Snavely with 40 assists and 14 digs. Kylee Crittenden had 16 digs, 11 points, nine kills, three aces and three blocks.
sullivan@vindy.com