Tigers top United for 1st district crown

By Mark W. Miller

Springfield's volleyball team had lost its two previous district finales.

SALEM — It took the top-seeded Springfield High School girls volleyball team five games to turn back a determined effort by United to capture the Division III district championship Thursday at Salem High.

The Tigers won by scores of 12-25, 26-24, 20-25. 25-20 and 15-13.

It's the first district title for Tigers coach Bill Knight, now in his 21st year at Springfield.

The Tigers advanced to the regional tournament at Barberton High where they will play the LaBrae district winner on Thursday at 6 p.m.

The Tigers couldn’t solve the powerful United serves through the first game of the match. Then the Golden Eagles (21-4) jumped out to a 20-12 lead in the second game and it looked like they might be going to make a rout of it.

But the Tigers started a comeback and fought back to tie the score 21-21. United tied it at 24-24 before Springfield scored the next two points to tie the match at one all.

“When we were behind in that second game, I told the girls in a huddle, if we can’t return serve and pass it to our setter, we are not going to win,” Knight said. “The kids were determined not to let that happen.”

The final game was tied on five occasions, with the lead changing three times. With the score tied 13-13, Andria Lyons of the Tigers served the deciding points for the victory.

It was the third time Springfield reached the district championship match, Knight said.

“You know what they say about the third time being a charm," he said. "I guess they are right.”

Knight said that his is one of his better teams. He won 22 games in a season with an earlier team, but couldn't make it through the district.

“Give credit to United, their coach [Troy Brunner] had them prepared,” Knight said. “The fans got their money’s worth tonight.”

Brunner, in his third season as United coach, said, “This was a hard-fought match. We made them earn the title.”

“This is the best group I’ve had,” Brunner said. “This was a match of momentum. When you have it you are great and when you don’t have it you are not.”

Kennedy scored seven points and she had 22 kills and two blocks for the Tigers. Ashley Davis scored eight points with an ace and she had 14 kills.

Larissa Santangelo had six kills and 14 blocks and Lyons scored 14 points.

Hillary Hoppel led the Golden Eagles with eight kills, five aces and 14 digs. Caitlin Higgins had four aces, 11 kills and 16 digs. Rachel Sell had 40 assists and 20 digs while Ashley Duncan had 13 kills.

miller@vindy.com