Stow seniors shine as spikers smack Strongsville

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by Dean Raymond

Correspondent

The Stow-Munroe Falls volleyball team honored five seniors on Senior Night Oct. 2: Dana Cummins, Jill Garner, Chelsea Harvey, Tara Honsaker and Kelsey Misbrener.

The senior quintet provided an appropriate home swan song, as they led the Bulldogs to a straight sets win over Strongville.

The Bulldogs improved to 13-4, 6-3 in the Northeast Ohio Conference River Division with a 25-12, 26-24, 29-27 victory over Strongsville.

"I'm proud of my girls," Bulldog head coach Scott Carter said. "We did what we had to do. I knew the team that fought the hardest would win this match. We had to fight to stay alive. We were gritty.

"All five of my seniors have played a critical role this year," Carter added. "Cummins runs our offense. Harvey is our primary offensive weapon. Misbrener is our libero and she controls the back court. Garner is another setter and is a good server, while Honsaker is our biggest blocking presence."

Stow led 5-1 early on in set one as Cummins served for points 2-5, while Harvey registered kills on points on and two. Junior outside hitter Colleen Bonacci also recorded a kill on point three for the Lady Bulldogs.

Stow (13-4, 6-3) continued to hold the lead and led 17-10 on a serving error by the Lady Mustangs.

Strongsville won the next two points, before Garner rang up winners on points 19-25 for Stow as the home team led 1-0 in the match. Junior middle hitter Charlotte Sykora had kills on points 21, 23 (a nice set from Cummins) and 24 for the Lady Bulldogs along with a putback on point 20.

In set two, the Lady Mustangs led 3-1 before Stow rallied back for a 12-9 advantage on a winner by Cummins. However, Strongsville received some nice serving from junior outside hitter Elease Moore to take the lead back at 19-17.

Things looked good for Strongsville when the second of two winners in a row from senior outside hitter Allison Buckley put the visitors ahead 23-20.

Garner served for the Stow point with a tap from sophomore outside hitter Paige Garrison before the Lady Mustangs won the next point to lead 24-22.

However, Stow fought off two straight sets points to tie it at 24 as a mishit by Strongsville and a winner by Garrison did the trick.

Garrison then served for points 25 (a kill from Harvey) and 26 (a tap by Cummins) to put the Lady Bulldogs up 2-0 in the match.

Set three saw the Lady Mustangs grab an 11-8 lead on a winner from junior middle hitter Katie Kelly.

Stow then took the lead back at 15-12 as Cummins served for a winner with a kill from Bonacci. Strongsville then rallied and led 20-19 on a kill by Buckley before a tap from Harvey tied things up again at 22.

Another pair of winners by Cummins gave the Lady Bulldogs a 24-22 advantage before the Lady Mustangs won the next two points, thanks to a Robertson kill and a lift call on Stow.

The two teams then traded points as set Three was tied again at 25, 26 and 27.

Then, Strongsville hit the antenna to make it 28-27 Stow.

Garrison served up an ace to clinch the set and match, giving Stow a season sweep over Strongsville. Stow won in four sets at Strongsville Sept. 11.

The Lady Bulldogs won at home Sept. 30 versus Lakewood, 25-6, 25-20, 25-11. On Sept. 25, the Maroon and Gold traveled to Elyria and lost, 22-25, 24-26, 25-22, 25-18, 5-15.

Stow was set to travel to North Royalton Oct. 7 but results were not available at press time.

Stow will host the Stow Invitational Oct. 11.

E-mail: stowsports@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3113