Boardman falls again to Stow in final

The Spartans won two of the first three games in the district final but lost in five.

By TOM WILLIAMS

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

STOW — After losing to the Stow High volleyball team in last year’s district final, Boardman’s goal was to get back to that contest and go one step further.

Once again standing in the way of the Spartans’ second regional trip in three seasons was Stow.

After winning two of the first three games of Thursday’s Division I district final on the Bulldogs’ home court, the Spartans, the Federal League champions, had two chances to advance to the Hudson regional.

But in both games, the Bulldogs responded with late rallies to win the district crown by scores of 21-25, 29-27, 21-25, 25-23 and 15-13.

“We didn’t play well in last year’s district final,” Boardman coach Glenn Sivak said. “Our motto coming into this tournament was taking care of unfinished business.

“We got to where we wanted to be, we just didn’t quite finish it off,” said Sivak after his fifth season as Spartans head coach. “We couldn’t let up at all. Mistakes hurt.”

In the fifth game, the score was tied 13-13 when the Spartans (19-6) were assessed a net violation that gave the ball back to the Bulldogs (13-11). Elizabeth McDade’s ace ended the contest.

“We had some net calls today at crucial times that were really big,” Sivak said. “Especially in a game like this against a team like Stow, you can’t give points away,” Sivak said. “I think on almost every one of our net calls we had the point. It was basically a two-point swing.

The game was the final one for seniors Monica Touvelle, Nicole Biagetti, Amanda Larson and Kim Maravola.

“This group of seniors showed the best leadership,” Sivak said. “I didn’t catch any flak from them, they kept the team in line.

“They’ve been together for a long time. They made a path for the next group coming up. I just wish them the best.”

Biagetti led the Spartans in scoring with points. She also made 13 kills and 23 digs.

“I’ll always kind of looked up to her,” said junior Stephanie Sfara who scored 10 points and made 17 kills. “She’s kind of like my big sister. We always talk on the court. She’s a great player to have on the court. I’m going to miss her a lot.

“We all played our hardest,” Sfara said. “There wasn’t [anything more] we could do — Stow is a great team. So are we — we gave it all we had. We had great plays.”

Touvelle, who has a scholarship to play basketball at Youngstown State, made one of them when she used her leg to keep a ball in play in game two.

“That’s indescribable,” Sfara said. “On that one, it was actually on the top of her foot. It’s legit and she does that a lot. We kinda get mad at her but you can’t get mad when you get a point off of it.

“She is an awesome player. It was amazing — when you make that kind of play, your fans just get so excited. It’s just something that you can’t describe.”

Touvelle scored eight points with an ace.

Sivak said junior Kristy Lake, who made 18 kills and 10 blocks, was a big addition to this year’s squad.

“She played soccer and volleyball, and didn’t miss a Federal League game,” Sivak said. “It kind of worked out well for both soccer and us.”

Amanda Volosin had eight points with three aces plus 12 digs and 26 assists. Larson had 11 kills and four blocks.

“Amanda Larson is our unsung [hero],” Sivak said. “Her only sport is volleyball, that’s all she’s ever done. She’s not the most gifted, she’s not the most athletic but when she’s on the court, she knows how to play.”

williams@vindy.com