In difficult times, people have rallied around sports as a way to feel proud and happy.
Much uncertainty surrounds the future at Manlius-Pebble Hill, but with an inspired run through the Section III Class D tournament, the girls volleyball Trojans proved an inspiration.
Just to get out of the first round, MPH, the no. 7 seed, needed five sets to get past Belleville-Henderson, but then it took just four sets to knock out no. 2 seed Stockbridge Valley.
This led to last Tuesday night’s Class D semifinal, at Chittenango, which pitted the Trojans against no. 6 seed DeRuyter. Twice, MPH led and, twice, gave up that lead, but it came through at the end to take down the Rockets in five sets.
It started well for the Trojans, who won the first set 25-18 before DeRuyter dominated the second set 25-14 to pull even. Then it was MPH’s turn to roll, cruising through a 25-12 third set, but then tailing off once more as the Rockets, by a 25-21 margin, took the fourth set.
Thus, for the second time in the sectional tournament, the Trojans had to win a fifth set to advance – but just like with Belleville-Henderson, MPH was up to that task, taking a big early lead and then claiming the set 25-13 to move to the sectional final.
Up front, Leandrah Shelmidine produced 16 kills, adding two blocks. Sophie Novak had 11 kills, two blocks and four digs. Maura Colley finished with eight kills, three aces, two assists and four digs.
Kaylee Steiner fed each of the Trojans’ front-line players thanks to her 28 assists, adding four aces and four digs. Maggie Carmen had eight digs and two aces, with Jordan Dunaway-Barlow managing six digs, three kills, two aces and two assists. Rachel Erwin had five digs and four aces.
All of this led to the sectional final against Remsen, the top seed and defending sectional champions, a team that, in the sectional tournament, had swept Owen D. Young and Cincinnatus to get this far and move its record to 19-1.
It was, in short, a daunting challenge, and though the Trojans would give it an all-out effort, knocking off the Rams proved too high of a challenge as Remsen prevailed in three sets, taking each of the first two sets 25-8 and the third set 25-13.
Hailey Murray set the tone, earning seven aces and 14 assists, plus five digs. Joleen Marfone had five aces, six kills and seven digs, while Aly Atwell had seven kills. Kate Roos had six aces, five digs and four kills.
