TT Sports

H.S. Volleyball

October 14, 2008

Black Knights avoid scare from Tigers

By Van Rose vrose@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter

TUNKHANNOCK -- The powerful Lake-Lehman girls volleyball team got something it didn’t expect from a rebuilding Tunkhannock team on Monday—a wakeup call.

The Tigers captured game one and battled Lake-Lehman on even terms throughout most of game two. However, the Black Knights finally regrouped and posted a 3-1 victory over Tunkhannock by scores of 20-25, 25-20, 25-8, 25-16.

“We needed to be more ready to play,” said Lake-Lehman senior setter Sarah Sorber. “We were sleeping in game one. It seems like when we don’t practice the day before, we slack off.”

Led by the hitting of seniors Kerri Kotch and Tori Womer, Tunkhannock took a 3-0 lead in game one and prevailed 25-20. The Tigers opened a 19-11 lead on two kills by Kotch, but Lake-Lehman drew within 23-20 on two slams by Leanne Grabski.

Womer answered with a kill that gave Tunkhannock a 24-20 lead, and the game ended on an unforced error by the Black Knights.

The Tigers flirted with a major upset by taking a 14-10 lead in game two, but Lake-Lake Lehman took a 22-19 lead on a kill by Christie Simoson, and won 25-20 on a Sorber slam.

Lake-Lehman (12-2) shifted into another gear and sealed the deal by capturing the next two games impressively behind the hitting of Grabski, Simoson and Catherine Sullivan.

The 6-foot Sullivan had one of her best performances of the season. She was dominant at the net, notching five kills and two blocks

“We played well in the last two games,” Sullivan said. “We anticipated on defense and started playing like we need to.”

Sullivan said Lehman displayed poise after Tunkhannock came out firing on all cylinders.

“We managed to fight back and played better after game one. We just need to want it more.”

Simoson, who had four kills and two blocks, said the Black Knights turned things around when they started having fun in game three.

“We played together and were much better once we relaxed. Our passing and blocking got a lot better.”

Lehman coach Noah Pickett was unhappy with his team’s slow start.

“We tripled our mistakes in game one and we were slow,” Pickett said. “It seemed like we were playing at half speed in the second game.”

Grabski paced the Black Knights with six kills, 22 service points and nine aces. Sorber had 16 assists and one ace.

Kotch and Womer paced Tunkhannock (8-6) with six kills each, while Jessica Wright had five kills and seven service points.

“Lake-Lehman is a good team that should go far,” Kotch said. “But hopefully, we’ll see them again (in the playoffs).”

Tunkhannock coach Mick Goodwin was pleased with his team’s effort.

“We played really well in the first game, but the better team showed up after that.”

Abington Heights 3, GAR 0

Shelby Morgan had 11 kills and a dig and Megan Fraley added 11 points, five aces, four assists, two digs and a kill to lead Abington past visiting GAR 25-23, 25-20, 25-12.

Also contributing for the Comets were Lizz Emmitt with 11 points, eight aces, four digs and four kills and Kaleigh Namiocka with 10 assists, three points, two aces, a dig and a kill.

GAR was led by Kathy Brojakowski with 11 points, nine digs, five kills and three aces.

Crestwood 3, Hazleton Area 0

Winning 25-8, 25-7, 25-12, the Comets were led by Jordan Pickering (11 kills, 3 blocks, 2 digs), Alyssa Hartranft (21 assists, 20 points, 4 aces) and Kayla Jeckell (5 kills, 14 points, 4 digs).

For the Cougars, Jenny Wizeman tallied five kills, six points, five digs, while Lindsey Borranko contributed with five aces, five assists and five points.

Michelle Vowler (5 kills, 5 points, 4 digs) also helped the Cougars.

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