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Gilmour spikers fall short in state title match
(by Steve Novak - November 12, 2008)
Gilmour spikers fall short in state title match
By STEVE NOVAK
For the 2008 Gilmour Academy volleyball team, this season was one step closer than last year to the state championship.
In only its second setback of the season, the Lancers lost the Division III state championship to Albany Alexander last Saturday in straight sets 25-17, 27-25, 25-15.
In 2007, Gilmour advanced to the Division III state semifinals before being eliminated by Albany Alexander. Last year, the Lancers lost to Albany in five games.
In the title matchup at the Ervin J. Nutter Convocation Center at Wright State University in Fairborn, Albany quickly showed how its superior size on the front line was going to prove an advantage. Led by 6-foot middle hitter Megan McCoy, Alexander rolled to a quick 5-0 advantage in the opening game and then stretched its lead to 10-2. The team led by at least seven points for the rest of the contest.
In the second game, the Lancers took an early 3-0 lead and kept the contest close for the duration of the match. During one point in the game, Gilmour's Mary Kramer scored three quick points during a six-point run by the Lancers that gave them back the lead, 12-11.
But Albany was never far behind in the second game, and the team took the lead from Gilmour at the 15-point mark. From that time on, the best that Gilmour could do was to tie the score, first at 24-24, then at 25-25, before McCoy slammed home the winning point for the 27-25 win.
Down two games to none, the Lancers could rebound in game three. Albany took the early lead and kept it. Gilmour could only get within seven points within the second half of the contest in the third game.
Gilmour advanced to the state final last Friday by beating Lima Central Catholic in three sets, 25-19, 25-17, 25-21. Gilmour advanced to the state tournament with a five-game regional final victory over West Salem High School.
Albany Alexander, which finished the season with a 27-1 record, was state runner-up in Division III last season after losing to Lima Central Catholic.
Gilmour coach Jeff Grzybowski said that the Albany squad was especially talented in returning serves from all the Gilmour players, and in keeping the ball in play and holding off Gilmour from scoring aces.
Gilmour finished the year with a 26-2 season record. Top players included Kelsey Rodgers, Mary Kramer, Maddy Mawby, Jess Hammer, Britt Shirk, Rayssa Sylvester and Alyssa Bridgeman for coach Jeff Grzybowski.
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