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Canfield volleyball zaps Poland in lone showdown
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Canfield’s Maddy Johns (25) returns the ball past Poland’s Arlia Duarte (10) during Monday’s volleyball match at Canfield High School. Canfield won in three games.
By Tom Williams
CANFIELD
It’s not often that Canfield and Poland aren’t in the same division. That’s why Monday’s volleyball showdown felt different.
It’s the only time the Cardinals and Bulldogs will play this season.
“It’s weird,” Poland senior middle hitter Arlia Duarte said after Canfield won by scores of 25-14, 25-14 and 25-22. “Finding out they were not in our division was really hard.
“That was my last game against them, we don’t get another chance against them, so that’s disappointing,” Duarte said.
Canfield coach Maria (Schuster) Householder agreed.
“It is weird,” said Householder, a 1990 Canfield graduate who played softball and volleyball. “They’ve always been our [main] rival].”
This season, Canfield (10-1) leads the All-American Conference Red Division with a 5-0 record. Poland (7-3) has a 4-1 record in the AAC White Division.
“At least we still get to play each other once,” Poland coach Sarah Gerberry said.
Canfield senior middle hitter Darby Hepola, who made nine kills and three blocks, said this year’s atmosphere “was different. You go through the years thinking that we’re going to play them [twice], as the big games we always getting ready for. Everyone’s always excited.
“It’s not [the same].”
Both teams are off to solid starts. Canfield has won 10 straight after a season-opening loss to Salem.
“It’s nice, can’t complain,” Canfield senior setter Janie Rafoth said of the winning streak. “Losing the first game taught us a lot about being a team. For sure, that’s what we need to work on.”
Rafoth made 25 assists and scored 10 points.
Heopola said rebounding “from that low point” has been fun.
“It hit us hard, but we just jumped right back up,” Hepola said. “It’s a good feeling.”
Rachel Rafoth made 27 digs while Emma Hartshorn scored 11 points. Also for the Cardinals, Maddie Johns made 13 kills and Morgan Leonard made nine.
Duarte and Gerberry said inspired play by senior outside hitter Chloe Bush has helped the Bulldogs.
“She’s scrappy,” Duarte said. “She’ll be on the floor any time the ball is next to her.”
Gerberry also cited senior Elise DeMartino and sophomore Gina Cooper.
“Chloe has stepped up tremendously for us,” Gerberry said.
Duarte said the loss of her best friend Aleah Hughes, who transferred to Western Reserve last year, took its toll.
“It was hard, Aleah was a big part of our team,” Duarte said. “She’s an amazing athlete and one of my best friends.
“Not having her by my side in every sport was really, really different,” said Duarte, who made six kills, six blocks and 12 digs. “Last year was a struggle without her, but this year, I feel we’re really coming back together.
“We’ve been doing well,” said Duarte, adding that the losses have come against quality teams. “Those are teams that deserve wins.”
Bush made six kills while Cordray Sundstrom scored five points.