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Canfield volleyball team sweeps Lakeview
Cardinals overcome
slow start in Game 1
By BRANDON JUDEH
CANFIELD
Canfield’s volleyball team got off to its customary slow start Tuesday night, but recovered in time to take the opening game and eventually sweep Lakeview, 3-0.
The Bulldogs (5-2, 3-1 AAC Red) got off to a hot start, taking a big lead early in the first game.
A furious Canfield rally erased that lead as the Cardinals took the opening game, 25-16.
“Sometimes it takes our team a little bit to warm up,” said Canfield head coach Maria Householder. “They weren’t playing up to their potential early, but really got things going and that changed the outcome.”
A back-and-forth second game ended with Canfield (9-1, 4-0 AAC Red) pulling away late for a 25-19 win and a 2-0 lead.
“We still have a lot of work to do,” Lakeview senior Whitney Winch agrees. Winch said. “We lost our first game last night and I think maybe it lingered into tonight’s match a little bit, but it shouldn’t.
“This is a young team. We only have three seniors — it’s mostly a team of juniors and we just need to keep learning and working hard.”
The Cardinals dominated the final game, winning 25-18 thanks in large part to senior Darby Hepola’s big game.
Hepola finished with 10 kills and six blocks.
“It felt great to come out and beat them,” she said. “I can still remember losing to them in the championship when we were in middle school, so to come out here and play as well as we did was a great feeling.”
Hepola said she and fellow seniors Janie Rafoth, Rachel Rafoth and Krista Kollat are having fun.
“I’m really proud of our team,” she said. “We are off to an amazing start and it just feels good to be having so much fun my senior season and playing alongside all of my friends. Our goal is to win the AAC.”
Janie Rafoth had 42 assists and Rachel contributed 49 digs.
Sophomore Maddy Johns recorded 15 kills, including two in the final moments of the third game.
For 17 years the Lakeview had only known one coach — Scott Taylor.
Taylor resigned after the 2013 season and assistant Caitlin Schnurrenberger took over.
Despite Tuesday night’s loss, she has kept up the Bulldogs’ winning ways.
“Coach Taylor was great to coach under and the transition has been a smooth one since I coached under him the past two seasons,” Schnurrenberger said. “The girls have responded well to the change, but again a lot of that has to do with them knowing me so well from the past couple of years.”
Winch agrees.
“We are used to her, she’s a great coach and does a great job. She knows what we need to do and to be honest we couldn’t have asked for a better coach, she’s amazing,” Winch said.
Jensen Silbaugh had 16 digs and six kills for the Bulldogs, while Winch finished with five kills and five blocks.