Canfield advances to district title match

October 22, 2014 at 12:09a.m.

STOW

For as long as anyone can remember, Stow-Munroe Falls High School has been a chamber of horrors for the Canfield volleyball team. The Division I district tournament has been a place where solid Canfield seasons have gone to die many times.

So far, not this year. The sixth-seeded Cardinals (24-1) have made themselves at home here, sweeping top-seeded Walsh Jesuit in three games on Tuesday to advance to Thursday’s district final against Hudson (20-4). Tuesday’s scores were 25-18, 25-17 and 25-23.

“It’s a lot different in Division I,” senior setter Janie Rafoth said. “It’s better volleyball, you’re playing against better competition.”

Rafoth knows from experience. She and her classmates were sophomores when Canfield advanced to the Division II regional final two years ago.

For years, Canfield has been a bubble team, floating from one division to the other. This year’s squad, which boasts a school record 24-match winning streak, has tied Canfield’s mark for wins set two seasons ago.

“It’s a huge difference,” senior middle hitter Darby Hepola said. “The level of play is a lot higher, a lot bigger girls. Teams run fast offenses. It’s a bigger challenge [so] it’s really nice to overcome that.”

Once again, the Cardinals won with a balanced team effort.

Rafoth made 15 digs and 30 assists while her twin sister, Rachel, had 40 digs and scored nine points.

Up front, Hepola made 13 kills while sophomore Maddy Johns made 14 kills and six blocks.

Junior Emma Hartshorn scored 16 points while Morgan Leonard made 15 digs.

“I am beyond excited for these girls, they have worked so hard,” said first-year Canfield head coach Maria Householder, crediting the win as another team effort.

“It’s hard to play us — we don’t have one strong player like some teams do.”

Also contributing were sophomore Jessica Meissner with 12 digs, freshman Morgan Cleevely with seven points, senior Krista Kollat with four kills and sophomore Emilie Miasek with five digs.

The Cardinals avenged last year’s loss to Walsh Jesuit in four sets in the tournament opener.

This time, Canfield was in control from the start. Rafoth scored five points to open the first set.

“That was a confidence booster,” Householder said.

When the Warriors tied the game at 17, Rachel Rafoth matched her sister with five points.

That lead set up a Johns kill for the decisive point.

“We were ready tonight,” Janie Rafoth said of the rematch.

“A year of experience helps, but we were ready to play.”

The second game followed a similar script, with Hepola blocking a shot for the final point.

“I never thought this [sweep] was possible,” said Heopla, referring to last year’s loss to Walsh Jesuit. “Going to the final is just mind-blowing.

“Oh my gosh, it’s so great.”

The Warriors (15-13) came to life in the nip-and-tuck third game.

The Cards clinched thee victory when the Warriors’ Carolyn Bauer returned a ball outside the net.

Up next for Canfield is second-seeded Hudson, which ousted Twinsburg in three games in the other semifinal.

Hudson lost to Walsh Jesuit in August.

Householder said the Cardinals have to find a way to neutralize the Explorers’ Jordan Mackay.

“Our focus in [today’s] practice is going to be how to shut down [Mackay],” Householder said. “Whereas they are going to go to practice and say, ‘What do we focus on?’

“Every single one of us hits, everybody digs, everybody serves. I think it’s harder to play us because of that.”

Canfield’s lack of height, Rafoth said, can be overcome.

“We play with heart,” Rafoth said.

“We don’t have the size, so basically we go in with a disadvantage against most teams. But we play like every point is the last and no ball hits the floor.”