Fitch downs Boardman in three sets

Some doubted whether the Falcons would return to prominence.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
STOW -- Nervous? Nah. Caitlin O'Patchen remembers what it's like to be nervous, when you're a wide-eyed freshman on a state-bound team of upperclassmen, just hoping you're not the reason your team loses, not ready to be the reason they win.
"When I was a freshman, it didn't feel real," she said.
Thursday was a different story. And a different team. And a different coach.
And a similar result.
Two years after Tom Case's retirement, the Fitch High volleyball team is back on top, dispatching rival Boardman in three sets (25-12, 25-21, 25-12) to win its sixth district title in seven years at Stow High School.
"This one feels right," said O'Patchen, a first-team all-Federal League selection. "This is what it should be."
The Falcons (16-8) lost in last year's district semifinals to Hudson but entered this year's tournament as the tournament's top seed. Still, a lot of people doubted whether Fitch could return to prominence after Case's retirement two years ago.
Coach's comments
"I didn't listen to what people said," said coach Dana Fellows, a 2000 Fitch High graduate who played under Case.
Still, Fellows admitted being nervous before Thursday's game. She had been a member of Case's first state tournament team in 1999, winning a district title on the same court.
But being a coach was different. And even though Fitch had beaten Boardman twice already this season -- dropping just one set in those two matches -- she knew victory wasn't a sure thing.
"Any team can beat anybody in this tournament," she said. "I had faith that we were going to pull it out, but I didn't walk in here and assume we were going to win."
But the Falcons proved to be too good. With the game tied at 7 in the first set, the Falcons went on an 8-0 run to take control.
The second set was closer, but by the third set, Fitch was ready to end the suspense. Leading 9-6, the Falcons scored 13 of the next 14 points to take a commanding lead.
O'Patchen had 45 assists, six blocks, 10 kills and 17 points while Meghan McDermott had six kills, 18 points, three blocks and 18 digs.
Nicole Smaldino had 13 digs and Rachel Ducay had six kills, 10 points and five blocks for the Falcons, who advance to play the winner of Chardon-Mentor on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Hudson High School.
"We're not the biggest team, but we play well together," O'Patchen said "We know how good we are."
Ali Sfara had eight points and 12 digs, Jill Sutton had four kills and April Melquist had 11 blocks for the Spartans (15-8).
"They're a good team, and they do the little things right," said Glen Sivak, Boardman's first-year coach. "They take advantage of opportunities -- and we gave them a lot of opportunities."
Spartan spark
Boardman, which lost in the sectional finals last season, was experiencing a resurgence of its own. With six returning seniors, the Spartans improved significantly since last season.
"They went from winning six or seven games to being seeded," Sivak said of the Spartans. "They've done everything you could ask them to do.
"I don't like to lose, especially in the last game, but I don't have any remorse," Sivak said. "They fought tooth and nail."
But it wasn't enough. And as the Falcons celebrated, there were reminders of past dominance all around the gym.
O'Patchen was the lone returning starter from Fitch's last state tournament team in 2003, but her older sister, Cara, was an assistant on that team and was watching from the stands.
Boardman's top assistant, Stacie Mang, played on the Falcons' state tournament teams in 2001 and 2003. And McDermott's older sister, Katie, also played on the 2001 team.
What's next?
"Hopefully, we can make it to state again," O'Patchen said. "I definitely think we can win [our regional]. If we play the way we did tonight, I think we can."
scalzo@vindy.com