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Field team spoils Salem-Hubbard rematch in final
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Hubbard’s Marquette Gasser (1) and Megan DeMaiolo (8) go up for a shot against Field’s Emily Ulreich (20) and Hannah Fisher (15) during a Division II district volleyball semi final Wednesday in Boardman. The Eagles were eliminated three games to one.
By Greg Gulas
BOARDMAN
Hubbard High has played for the district volleyball championship for the past 16 years.
Salem has won 13 district crowns and were quietly hoping to defend their title against the Eagles, who they defeated for the title a year ago and the squad that dealt them one of their six regular-season losses this year.
After beating Southeast in five games on Tuesday at the Boardman Gymnasium, the Quakers will get defend their district title, but against Field.
The Falcons defeated Hubbard in four games, denying the Eagles a 17th straight trip to the district title match.
The Quakers (19-6) defeated Southeast (18-7) in the nightcap, 15-25, 25-17, 25-20, 21-25, 16-14, while Field ended Hubbard’s season, 14-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-16.
“It’s always special to be able to defend your crown, but I really wanted to play Hubbard because they beat us during the regular season,” said Salem coach Don Conser.
“Southeast is an excellent team and I just figured they would push us. Tonight was the first time that I have seen Field play and from what I have seen, we expect a tough battle on Thursday night,” added Conser.
For Salem, Cassie Davidson had 11 kills, while Laura Brown added 40 kills, two assists and an ace. Mariah Halleck finished with four aces, one block and six kills, and Alexis Smith had two aces, a block and 19 kills.
In the opener, the Eagles (17-7) coasted to a win in the first game but a 25-23 loss in game two, after forging an 18-12 advantage, cost them momentum heading to the third game.
“The shift in momentum in the second game was really big,” said Hubbard coach Chuck Montgomery. “We had them on their heels and we let them get away.
“We served tough in the first game but being undersized, they wore us down in the middle.”
Montgomery was philosophical after the loss.
”They got a few blocks and a few breaks and the momentum swung their way,” he said. “Both teams played hard and while I am disappointed that we won’t be in the title game, we still had a great year.”
The Falcons went on to top Hubbard in the final two games, 25-19 and 25-16.
“There’s a big difference between playing with intensity and playing intense and our girls just got after it tonight,” said Field coach Brenda Ward.
“The key was our winning the second game and shifting the momentum in our favor,” she added.
Field’s Hannah Mueller, who had 20 kills, five blocks and nine points on the night, didn’t want Tuesday to be her last game in a Falcons uniform.
“I started slow but then began to relax. The team kept me up and helped me remain positive,” Mueller said.
For Field (18-6), Emily Ulreich added 20 kills, 20 digs and nine points, while Kelsey Coleman and Jayme Mosley had 26 and 22 assists, respectively.
Pacing the Eagles was Maris Sarisky with 13 kills and 10 digs; Jill Hinkle with 10 kills; Marquette Gasser with 35 assists, and Dawn Lingenfelter who had 31 digs, a game-high 12 points and two aces.
Thursday’s championship match will begin at 6 p.m. The winning team will advance to the regional next week at Stow High School.