Coach credits Lady Tigers team for opening-round win
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By John Hartsock
jhartsock@altoonamirror.com
HOLLIDAYSBURG -- The Hollidaysburg Area High School girls volleyball program is in uncharted territory.
After winning the District 6 Class 3A championship last week, Hollidaysburg captured its first-ever PIAA state tournament victory Tuesday night, topping Greencastle-Antrim of District 3 in three straight sets, 25-17, 25-20, 25-20 at the Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School gymnasium.
The win advances Hollidaysburg (19-4) into the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinal round this Saturday against WPIAL champion Pittsburgh North Catholic at a site and time to be determined. North Catholic punched its ticket into the quarters by sweeping Latrobe in three straight sets in an opening-round matchup Tuesday.
"I give a huge hat tip to our girls for their preparation and execution tonight,'' fourth-year Hollidaysburg coach Dean Grenfell said. "Greencastle-Antrim put up a real big challenge, but our girls were prepared, they listened well to everything they were told in the scouting report, and they executed the game plan very well.
"The girls are really proud of themselves, and I'm really proud of them,'' Grenfell added. "Winning a state tournament game was one of the goals that our team set for itself at the beginning of this season. Last year we won the district championship but we lost in the first round of states to Twin Valley. Tonight, we were able to attain what we could not attain last year, and for the first time in program history, by winning a state tournament game.''
Hollidaysburg (19-4) used a balanced team effort to win.
"Typically at the state level, one or two girls make the difference for a team, but I truly think tonight was a win that was accomplished by all 15 of the girls on this team,'' Grenfell said.
Hollidaysburg used strong surges late in each set to record the sweep.
Hollidaysburg parlayed an 11-5 closing run in the first set into a 25-17 victory. Senior outside hitter Elsey Kephart, who paced the Lady Tigers in service points with 10, scored a point on a return, and sophomore setter/rightside hitter Emily Clapper closed the set with a service point to give the Lady Tigers momentum.
Hollidaysburg won the second set, 25-20, finishing that set by outscoring Greencastle, 8-3. Freshman middle hitter Sahara McNeal scored a couple key points on returns down the stretch, and junior outside hitter Lucy Stanek and senior right side hitter Aubrey Pupa closed the match with points on returns to put Hollidaysburg on the doorstep to a three-set sweep.
"I think that our energy tonight was the best that it's ever been all season,'' Pupa said. "I love this team. Everybody plays so well together.''
Greencastle, which finished 19-2, built a 14-10 lead in the third set, before Hollidaysburg came battling back to win the set with a 15-6 surge.
The Lady Tigers scored the last four points and players and coaches gathered in jubilation on the floor after Hollidaysburg clinched the victory.
"When the score was close tonight, we were always able to make a strong swing,'' Kephart said. "The players on our team support each other, rely on each other, and push each other. We play well together.''
Greencastle, which was led by senior outside hitter Kiley Burkholder's 10 service points, nine kills and three blocks, finished third in the District 3 tournament, where the Lady Blue Devils suffered their only other loss this season.
Greencastle coach Corry Eagler felt that her team lacked confidence Tuesday night.
"We had a long drive here, and we stepped on the court and we were sluggish,'' Eagler said. "I don't know that we had any confidence tonight.
"That is a good team (Hollidaysburg) on the other side, but we didn't play our game tonight,'' Eagler added.
Hollidaysburg did, and, as a result, the Lady Tigers will be moving on in the state tournament Saturday.
"I would say that we're going to have to bring our best stuff to compete against the WPIAL champion,'' Grenfell said. "But we're peaking at the right time.''
STATISTICS
Hollidaysburg service points: Kephart 10, Clapper 7, Clapper 6, Kordish 4, Stanek 4, McLanahan 4.
Greencastle Antrim leaders: Burkholder 10 service points, nine kills, three blocks; Kauffman, five kills, three blocks; Davis, two aces.
Records: Greencastle Antrim (19-2), Hollidaysburg (19-4).