Salem captures Div. II district volleyball title

It was the second straight title for the Quakers who defeated Field.

By RYAN JONES

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

BOARDMAN — Even though capturing a Division II district title won’t put Salem at the pinnacle of tournament play, it’s a special accomplishment in the eyes of coach Don Conser.

“Winning the district championship never gets old,” he said.

With a 25-12, 25-14, 25-15 sweep of Field Wednesday night, the Quakers captured their second district championship in as many years and will look to avenge last season’s regional semifinal defeat Nov. 1 at Stow-Munroe Falls High School.

“I didn’t expect Field to roll over and die at any point during the match,” Conser said. “But we handled them easier than I thought we would. I think the one reason we had an easier time was because we jumped on them early.”

Salem (25-0) went on a 12-1 run to begin the first game. Sophomore Amy Scullion served nine consecutive points during the stretch, while her sister, Katie, sparked the offense with six kills that propelled the Quakers to a 25-12 win.

“I told the girls it doesn’t matter how you start, it’s how you finish that counts,” Conser said. “But before the game they said ‘let’s get them right away.’ They were ready to play tonight.”

The Falcons (21-4) battled in the second game and were within two, 7-5, but Salem went on an 18-9 run to take game two, 25-14.

The Quakers’ accurate serving disrupted Field’s offensive attack for much of the night.

“I’ve always told my girls to pick a spot on the court and to serve to that spot,” Conser said. “Most of the girls have experience and know how to make the ball go where they want it to. Field received some of our serves that looked to be headed out of bounds, but fortunately for us they played them.”

Field coach Jeff Kidd said his team came up against a Salem team that deserved its No. 1 state ranking in the coaches poll.

“It was fairly simple; they hit it hard and hit it in all the right spaces,” he said “They read the court well, hit it around our blocking and in spots we left open.”

Katie Scullion led Salem with 14 kills, Amy Scullion had 18 points, 12 kills, six aces and five blocks, and Sarah Brobeck added five kills. Junior Taylor Toothman dished out 28 assists.

Traci Vandegrift finished with nine kills and 4 blocks to lead Field.

Conser said his team is cognizant of the No. 1 ranking they own.

“They realize that every team we play wants to hit the bulls’ eye we have on our back,” he said. “The intensity level increases each game in the tournament. I told them at the end of the season that the easy games are over. They understand that one bad night is all it takes for the run to end.”