Halloween comes early: Favorites survive scares

Hubbard and Salem were both tested before advancing in the Division II district semifinals.

By JOE SCALZO

Vindicator sports staff

BOARDMAN — A few minutes before the deciding fifth game of Tuesday’s Division II district volleyball semifinal, Hubbard coach Chuck Montgomery walked over to the scorer’s table, broke into the smallest of grins and said, “You find out what you’re made of right now, that’s for sure.”

Twenty minutes later, his grin was a little bit bigger.

The Eagles survived a scare, senior Jackie Carlisle survived the flu and Thursday’s dream district final matchup survived two Portage Trail Conference teams that apparently didn’t know they were supposed to go home quietly.

“Before that fifth game, our seniors got in a huddle and said, ‘We’re not going out here,’ ” said Montgomery, following a 25-16, 15-25, 25-20, 14-25, 15-6 win over Mogadore Field at Boardman High School. “The kids showed a lot of grit and just refused to lose.”

In Tuesday’s first match, Salem outlasted PTC champion Southeast, 23-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-23, and will face Hubbard for the district championship in a rematch of the best regular season match in the Valley this fall.

The Eagles won that Oct. 7 match in four sets, although the Quakers were playing without middle hitter Lydia Shivers. She will play in Thursday’s contest, which starts at 6 p.m.

“I don’t know if it will make a difference, although I’d like to think it will,” said Salem coach Don Conser. “I look for a very, very close game.”

The Eagles (25-0), who were ranked second in the final Ohio poll, certainly weren’t expecting such a close game against Field.

Despite losing Carlisle — a Youngstown State recruit and Hubbard’s best player — for 10 days to the flu, the Eagles breezed through sectional competition and entered Tuesday’s match without needing five sets to win a match all year.

But after rolling through the first set, Hubbard played its worst set of the year (Montgomery’s words) to let the Falcons back in the match. They split the next two sets, then Hubbard surged to a 5-0 lead in the fifth set and never looked back.

“I’m not saying we overlooked them because we didn’t,” said Montgomery. “We knew they were good. They [Field] just played extremely well with a lot of desire and a lot of effort.

“They came to play.”

Carlisle, who didn’t look quite 100 percent, led Hubbard with 26 kills. Senior Lexi Starheim had an outstanding game with 12 kills, eight blocks, 12 points and two aces, while Dawn Lingenfelter had 19 digs and Marcy Angelo 49 assists.

Field senior Tabitha Murray — one of seven seniors on the team — had 19 kills, 44 digs and seven points for the Falcons (20-5), while Kelsey Renicker had four kills and eight blocks and Hannah Mueller seven kills and seven blocks.

“I thought we really rose up tonight,” said Field coach Brenda Ward. “We played with a lot of intensity.

“The last game, Carlisle came alive and we just couldn’t stop her. They’ve got a good team.”

In the opener, Salem senior Amy Scullion — an Ohio State basketball recruit — had 32 kills, four blocks, three aces, 14 digs and one assist to power the sixth-ranked Quakers (22-3) back into the district final.

“We’ve got six hitters and we’re better than five of theirs,” said Southeast coach Mary Tarka. “You take her out and I think we win.

“Amy, she’s just phenomenal.”

Laura Brown had 36 assists, one ace and one block for Salem and Mariah Halleck had eight digs, five kills and two aces.

Emily Gahagan had seven points and five kills, Brittany Woodard had six points, five kills and 36 assists and Kayla Carson had five points, five kills and 11 digs for the Pirates (20-5).

“Southeast has always been a very solid team,” said Conser. “They’re certainly solid this year. They hit the ball and they really attack.”

Salem’s fans were decked out in red shirts — an answer to the white Hubbard T-shirts that flooded the Eagles’ gym for the Oct. 7 game, which drew more than 1,500 people — and both teams are expecting an electric atmosphere on Thursday.

“That’s what we’re here for,” said Montgomery. “I’m just hoping both teams play well. We’re looking for ward to it.”

Salem and Hubbard last met in the district final in 2006, a match the Quakers won.

“They’re a great team,” said Scullion. “It’s going to be a fun match to play.”

scalzo@vindy.com