Salem’s season ends in five-game loss to Walsh

The Quakers won the first and fourth games but couldn’t carry that momentum in the deciding game.

By JOE SCALZO

VindICATOR SPORTS STAFF

STOW — Early in the fifth game of Thursday’s Division II regional semifinal, after the second straight close call had gone against his team, Salem High volleyball coach Don Conser looked over at the line judge, took off his glasses and held them out for her.

“My mother always told me if I didn’t have anything good to say about the officials, then I shouldn’t say it,” said Conser, who proceeded to ignore that advice. “I thought the up official was good, I thought the down official was good.

“I thought the line judge needed new glasses.”

Conser got a laugh. He didn’t get the call. And Walsh Jesuit got the momentum, pulling away in that final set to beat the Quakers 16-25, 25-12, 25-21, 14-25, 15-9 and advance to the regional final at Stow High School.

“I think that’s what the fifth game is about,” said Walsh coach Missy Sturm, whose team rallied from a two-set deficit in the district final against Chagrin Falls Kenston last week. “You need to go out and get that momentum right away. I told them, ‘Think back to Kenston, think back to how you started that game.’

“That’s exactly what they did.”

Allison Foschia, a Duquesne recruit, led Walsh (17-10) with 23 kills and four aces, Michelle Simpson had 47 assists, Jacqui Endre had 24 digs and Janean Kacimir had five blocks for the Warriors, who will play Mentor Lake Catholic in Saturday’s final.

“We lost 10 matches this year and they continue to come back and work hard,” said Sturm. “They knew that we played a strong schedule and I do that because I think it pays off in games like this.”

Salem senior Amy Scullion had 30 kills, 20 digs, three blocks and two aces to lead the Quakers (23-4), who won a regional title two years ago.

“Scullion, she’s going to get her kills,” Sturm said. “She’s an awesome, awesome player.

“We needed to just try to keep her under wraps just a little bit and dig some of her balls.”

Scullion, an Ohio State basketball recruit who is considered by many to be the Valley’s best-ever volleyball player, practically willed her teammates back into the match after the Quakers dropped the second and third games.

Even in the last game when Salem fell behind 12-3, she could be seen clapping her hands and yelling encouragement to her teammates. The Quakers scored six of the next seven points, but the deficit proved to be too much.

“I think the girls in the first game were very excited,” said Conser. “I think in the fourth game they thought, ‘Gosh, if we don’t win, our season’s over.’

“And in the fifth game, well, we already talked about the unfortunate, blind official.”

Mariah Halleck had 13 kills, 10 digs and two aces and Laura Brown had 41 assists, two blocks and one for Salem, whose red-shirted fans nearly filled one side of the gym. Even the playoff-bound football team made the trip, entering the gym midway through the match and earning a standing ovation from the crowd.

The fans were treated to a terrific match; unfortunately, it wasn’t a winning one.

“Obviously, Amy Scullion has meant a lot to the program,” said Conser. “There are some people that feel that Salem is all Amy Scullion and that’s not true. We have some very good defensive players, we have good spikers other than Amy, and I think we’ll see some of those spikers coming back.”

Conser will also be back.

“I had told a couple people that when Amy Scullion graduates, I might,” he said. “But I have a goal that I want and I can’t reach that goal this year.”

Which is?

“I want 600 wins,” he said. “I’ve got 595.

“If we would have gone undefeated [in the postseason] and won the state championship, I’d have 599, so I’d have still had to come back next year.”

scalzo@vindy.com