Beaten in the last two Section III Class d championship matches – by Oppenheim-Ephratah in 2009 and Living Word Academy in 2010 – the Hamilton girls volleyball team has another chance to reach the top.
The Emerald Knights got that chance at that crown by rising from its no. 4 seed and, after barely surviving Owen D. Young in the quarterfinals on Feb. 10, dominating top seed Brookfield in last Tuesday’s Class D semifinal, sweeping the Beavers in three games.
Leading most of the opening game, Hamilton watched Brookfield turn its mistakes into five straight points to lead 18-14. But the Emerald Knights countered with a 5-0 run of its own and never trailed again, claiming that game 25-21 as Carrie Von Muench’s ace sealed it.
Through most of the second game, the Beavers kept it tight, but at 14-13 Hamilton reeled off eight straight points off Morgan Brooks’ serves and breezed to a 25-14 win. The third game was never close as the Emerald Knights bolted ahead 9-2 and crushed Brookfield 25-11 to clinch it.
Rachel Holcomb set the tone with eight aces to go with 13 assists. Emily Powrie had a team-best 12 kills as Marissa Stits added 10 kills. Brooks contributed eight digs as Hannah Sorosky posted nine assists. Von Muench had four kills and nine digs.
