“We finally beat them.”
That’s how Bradford High volleyball coach Judy Abbey summarized
her feelings after the Lady Owls defeated Clearfield in a District
9 Class AA quarterfinal match Tuesday.
It was sweet revenge for the Lady Owls, who dropped both matches
to Clearfield during the regular season.
In Tuesday’s match, Clearfield eked out a 25-23 win in the first
game, but Bradford rallied to win three straight – 25-19, 25-23,
25-23 – to advance to the semifinals at Punxsutawney on
Thursday.
Lexie Goble (four digs, eight aces, 12 points, eight kills),
Erin Hannon (10 digs, nine points, nine kills), Jenn Hilmes (six
digs, four points), Brittany Holsinger (7 digs, 9 points), Rachel
Garges (12 digs, 5 aces, 13 points), Caitlin Persichini (8 digs, 16
assists) and Katlyn Nelson (5 digs, 3 points, 5 kills) sparked
Bradford.
“Erin Hannon, Jenn Hilmes and Brittany Holsinger were all over
for us,” remarked Abbey. “We played well as a team and we were all
over the floor tonight. Goble had a great night serving.
“Persichini had a strong game on the floor for us. Goble, Nelson
and Hannon worked well together on the net.
“We only put the ball out of play five times on our serves.
That’s one of our strengths. We played a different defense tonight
and our kids picked it up.”
After suffering a loss in the first game, Bradford used four
service aces by Goble at the beginning of the second game to take a
4-0 lead. With several Clearfield misques and a yellow card handed
to the Clearfield coach, Hannon and Nelson went up against the net
for the kill to make the score 10-4 early in the second match. With
a block from Goble, a floater from Holsinger and a service point by
Garges the Lady Owls pulled ahead 17-11 and went on for the 25-19
win.
In the third game, Bradford rallied from a 13-7 deficit with the
help of four service points by Garges and two by Goble and went on
to win 25-23.
The Lady Owls found themselves down 4-0 at the beginning of the
fourth game. However, with two kills from Hannon and two service
points from Holsinger, the Lady Owls were right back in it.
Hannon added three service points and Nelson added a kill to put
the Lady Owls ahead 9-6.
Clearfield rallied to deadlock the game at 11-11.
The hosts built an 18-14 lead and then a 20-15 advantage.
However, the visitors were able to trim the deficit to 21-20.
With their “pick it up” chant and the crowd coming alive with
the famous “Owls Clap,” the Lady Owls were rejuvenated.
Hannon earned a service point and Goble came up with a big block
to make the score 23-22 and the Lady Owls pulled away for the
win.
Going into Thursday’s match against top-seeded Punxsy, Abbey
said, “We played them once down there during the regular season and
lost. We played them well. They are an exceptional team. They are
18-1 and have a great season going. It will be tough to go in there
and play. I think it will be a good match.
“If we play and hustle as well as we did today then we’ll be in
the match.”
