Mathews' big year comes to end

The Mustangs, who won their first district title, were eliminated by Dalton.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
TWINSBURG -- Forget what anyone tells you, there weren't many people back in August who thought the Mathews High volleyball team would be playing in the first week of November.
Their rookie coach, Lena Dascenzo, was only halfway through college and wasn't even sure she wanted the job. Nobody on the team had any regional tournament experience simply because nobody on any Mathews volleyball team -- ever -- had any regional tournament experience. And, to top it off, the Mustangs only had one senior and she measures a whopping 5-feet-6.
"It's come really far since I played," said Dascenzo, a junior at YSU who graduated from Mathews in 2002. "All the girls play club ball now and I can't tell you how much it's paid off."
Fresh off winning their first district volleyball title in school history, the Mustangs fell Thursday to Dalton 25-19, 25-17, 25-19 in a Division IV regional semifinal. And despite losing in three games, Dascenzo was pleased with the effort.
"I couldn't be more proud of them," Dascenzo said. "They just kept fighting."
Dalton makes big runs
Unfortunately for the Mustangs, the taller, more experienced Bulldogs were a little better. Dalton, which was also making its first regional appearance, made a big run at the beginning of each game.
Each time, Mathews answered. Each time, it wasn't enough.
"We've been in some pressure situations this year and I think the girls are just really confident playing with each other," said Dalton coach Sara Yehl, who has coached the Bulldogs for 13 years. "They did a great job tonight."
Dalton (24-2) advanced to play Norwalk Saint Paul in Saturday's regional final. The Bulldogs, who start three seniors, were the first girls team in school history to win a Wayne County Athletic League title in any sport.
"We didn't pass as well as we were capable of tonight but we have so many girls who are capable of putting the ball down," Yehl said.
Paddock is leader
Mathews (20-3) starts five juniors and its standout player is junior Sophie Paddock, a 6-foot tall middle hitter. The Mustangs are a better team when Paddock plays in the front row, which meant the Bulldogs were in attack mode when she rotated to the back.
"We were like, 'If we can just wait it out...'" Yehl said. "[Paddock] had some nice hits on the ball."
Paddock finished with 14 kills, nine blocks and two aces, while junior Jenna Manz had 12 points and two aces and junior Karen Pilati had six digs. The Mustangs will lose Jordan Hardval to graduation, but those three juniors, along with starters Alexis Gill and Breanne Gollan, will return.
"Hopefully, we can get back to the same spot next year," Dascenzo said, "and go even farther."
scalzo@vindy.com