Salem squanders 2-game lead, falters to Toledo CC

After building a big lead,
Salem lost its first match of
the year in the state semifinals.

By MATT ZIRCHER

VINDICATOR SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

DAYTON — It looked like another win for the Salem High volleyball team Friday afternoon in the Division II state semifinals, with the Quakers leading Toledo Central Catholic two games to none.

All that momentum, however, disappeared from there, as the Fighting Irish came alive the final three games to end Salem’s perfect season, defeating the Quakers 22-25, 19-25, 25-15, 25-6, 15-13 at Wright State’s Nutter Center.

Salem, which was one of two remaining unbeaten teams among the state finalists, closed its season at 27-1, while TCC (24-4) takes on Columbus Hartley, which defeated Tipp City Tippecanoe in the other semifinal, today in the championship match.

Game one featured nine ties and six lead changes until two Amy Scullion kills gave Salem the lead for good at 22-21. After an Allison Ward kill, an Irish attack error and a bad set closed out the game.

The Quakers trailed 16-15 in game two before rattling off seven consecutive points, two coming on kills by Katie Scullion and another on a Paige Kenreigh ace. After Amber Wiczynski broke the string with a pair of kills, Salem used two Irish serving errors and another Scullion kill to go up two games to none.

But just when it looked like the Quakers were in control, TCC snatched the momentum away, jumping out to an 8-1 lead in the third game and 12-0 in game four. The Irish were then up 13-8 in the fifth game before Salem made a comeback, scoring five of the next six points to trail just 14-13 before an attack error ended the match.

“Toledo Central Catholic finally hit the bulls-eye on our back,” said Salem coach Don Conser. “It’s been there for the last half of the season and the girls were very aware of that.”

“You saw four different teams out there,” added Conser. “We were one team in those first two games and they certainly didn’t play up to potential. In the second two games, we didn’t play up to our potential and they dominated. The fifth game was nip and tuck and we got tucked.”

Both teams had 25 kills through the first two games, but while TCC maintained that pace the rest of the way with 33 kills over the final three, Salem had just 16 to go with 15 attack errors.

“I think we realized after the second game that, gosh, we’re almost there and we tightened up after that,” said Conser. “I called a couple of time-outs, but it didn’t help.”

Amy Scullion recorded a double-double of 20 kills and 10 digs for the Quakers while Katie Scullion also posted a double-double of 18 kills and 13 digs.

“I think someone is missing a great opportunity if they don’t contact Katie and ask her to play for them,” said Conser. “She wasn’t sure if she was good enough to play on the college level, but I think she’s definitely good enough.”

Taylor Toothman added 35 assists and 11 digs for Salem.

Ashley Frazier had a double-double of 18 kills and 10 digs to go along with five service aces for the Irish while Wiczynski added 13 kills. Libero Amanda Gray tallied 32 digs and setters Amanda Arnold and Kelsey Gerken had 30 and 20 assists, respectively.