Mentor returns semifinal favor

By CHUCK HOUSTEAU
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
HUDSON -- In 2003, the Austintown Fitch High volleyball team defeated Mentor in the regional finals to advance to the state tournament.
On Wednesday, Mentor returned the favor by defeating the Falcons in three sets -- 27-25, 25-19 and 25-15 -- in the regional semifinals.
"We always have great matches with Fitch and tonight was no different," Mentor coach Richard Woodman said. "These two teams go way back."
Woodman's Cardinals have been in the regionals for 18 consecutive seasons while the Falcons have played at this level six times in the last seven years.
"Our girls gave a great effort but things just weren't going our way tonight," second-year Fitch coach Dana Fellows said. "No matter how hard, we tried we just couldn't get things to go our way."
Fitch's best effort of the night came in the very first game when the Falcons (16-9) extended the contest past 25 points with a late rally.
Falcons rebound
The Falcons trailed 20-13 in the first game but Fitch outscored the Cardinals 11-4 to tie the contest at 24-24 behind strong hitting by senior Meghan McDermott and junior Caitlin O'Patchen.
After tying the game again at 25 on a kill by junior Karla Farina, Mentor rallied to score the last two points on Falcon miscues.
"Winning the first game was really huge," Woodman said. "The first game both teams played very tentatively and luckily we were able to pull that one out.
"After that, both teams seemed to calm down and play some pretty good volleyball."
Fellows said that the Falcons outlook was still positive heading into game two despite the tough first-game loss.
"My girls are usually pretty good at putting the last game behind them," Fellows said. "I thought we played well in the second game."
Fitch battled Mentor evenly in the second game and finally grabbed its first lead of the night midway through game two.
A service ace by McDermott gave Fitch a 13-12 lead and the Falcons seemed to have grabbed the momentum.
Cardinals rally
But Mentor (20-7) proved to be a formidable foe and rallied with a 10-1 run to open up a 22-14 lead.
Fitch responded with a rally of their own scoring four straight points but the Cardinals regrouped to finish with a 25-19 win.
"Once we got up 2-0 we were confident," Woodman said. "It's awfully hard for anyone to come back from 2-0.
"But I tried to impress upon my kids that they have to play game three just like it is game one."
The Cardinals did just that. Fitch stayed even with Mentor early in that game, sharing a 10-all tie before the Cardinals rallied down the stretch to put the game and match away.
Molly Altier led Mentor with 16 service points while sophomore's Lindsey Deitmen had 15 kills and Sara Kosec added 12 kills as the Cardinals dominated Fitch at times at the net.
McDermott led Fitch with 16 points, 9 kills and 13 digs while O'Patchen added 14 points, 9 kills and 13 digs.
Senior Nicole Smaldino played outstanding defense for the Falcons and pulled out a team-high 22 digs.
"Our overall season was tremendous," Fellows said. "I'm proud of our determination and effort tonight and all season long.
The Falcons will return many top underclassmen including the team's best player O'Patchen who is sure to grab many post-season awards.
"Mentor was on top of their game tonight," Fellows said. "They had the momentum for most of the match except for a few moments here and there."