Reserve’s dream season ends short of state

By Greg Gulas

TWINSBURG — Having already advanced the farthest in school volleyball history, second-year head coach Tracey Hansen of Western Reserve High was hoping to take another step up that ladder of success by qualifying for the school’s first-ever state tournament.

Unfortunately, when you go up against a team with the volleyball pedigree and tradition of a Norwalk St. Paul, you had better bring your “A” game or risk the consequences.

The Flyers defeated the Blue Devils, 25-10, 25-13 and 25-18 in the Division IV regional finals Saturday at Twinsburg High, earning their first trip to the state tournament since 2007 but their sixth overall this decade.

“Norwalk St. Paul is an excellent defensive team; the best defensive unit overall that we have played this year,” Hansen said. “They are fundamentally sound, physically solid and a great all-around team. We knew all of that coming into today’s game.

“We had some service errors and in the first two games, didn’t play as hard as we needed to play. Defensively, they picked up on some things that teams we played previously this season did not. We didn’t quit, fought right to the end and that to me is also the mark of a good team.”

For Flyers head coach Nancy Miller, making it back to the state tournament after a one-year absence is the first step to what her team hopes will be a third state crown this decade.

“I thought that our girls came out strong, remained focused all game and that really set the tone for us,” she said. “We try not to get complacent with each other or for that fact, our opponent. Because of that very reason we enjoyed the success that we did today.

“We’re balanced in the front row and had some long rallies. It’s so hard to single just one player out because everyone contributed in some small way. We passed well and our hitters put the ball right where they had to all afternoon.”

Miller, who is in her 17th year as head coach, is the architect of a program that has won 17 Firelands Conference titles; five regional crowns; made it to the Final Four five of the last eight years with two state crowns (2002, 2006) and two runner-up trophies (2004, 2007).

She, however, had the utmost respect for the Blue Devils.

“They served strong today and never gave up. I actually thought that their passing was better this afternoon than in their semifinal game with Newbury on Thursday night,” Miller noted.

In the first game the Flyers (24-3) built a 9-5 cushion before relying on the serving of sophomore Corynne Smith, whose seven consecutive service points extended the lead to 16-6.

“This is really exciting, not just for me but for everyone on the team because we are making a return trip to the state. This is what we have been working so hard for all season long,” Smith said. “I just do what I can, relying on my teammates when they help by calling lines to me. We had a total team effort and that was the real difference in the game.”

Hillary Fritz and Emily Nickoli had six and five points respectively in the second game.

In the final game the Blue Devils’ Victoria Brown registered six consecutive points for a 13-11 Western Reserve advantage, but the Blue Devils could not hold on as the Flyers reeled off 14 of the last 19 markers.

Brown had seven kills for the Blue Devils while Claire Ferrando (nine) and Casey Stevens (six) combined for 15 assists.

Samantha Donges had 16 digs for Western Reserve (24-3).

Norwalk St. Paul will play New Philadelphia’s Tuscarawas Central Catholic at 4 p.m. in the state semifinals at Wright State University on November 12.