November 8, 2009 — Fans of Crawford County girls volleyball have become accustomed to the unique relationship shared between Maplewood and Cochranton over the years.
The players, coaches and fans for both teams want the best for each other no matter what. But on Saturday, the Cardinals and Tigers were forced to put that friendship on hold for a bit while they battled for the District 10 Class A championship at Meadville High School’s House of Thrills.
Cochranton, the Region 2 champion, was looking to regain control of the district after seeing its four-year reign come to an end last season with a loss to the Tigers in the semifinals. Maplewood, meanwhile, was trying to avenge a pair of losses to the Cards this season and add to its record collection of District 10 trophies.
Only one of those teams, however, could get what they wished for. And in the end, that team was Cochranton, who finished off a flawless D-10 tournament performance with a 25-21, 12-25, 25-17, 25-21 win over the Tigers for their fifth District 10 title in six years.
“I really wasn’t sure at the beginning of the season where we were going to be in the mix at all,” Cochranton coach Marci Malliard said. “I didn’t know who was going to step up. I made a switch with our setters and I didn’t know if that was going to be a good move or not. But it proved to add to our game.
“Everyone has worked hard, and it’s paid off.”
Cochranton went into the championship game against the Tigers fresh off its best performance of the season; a performance that had the fans in attendance from all over District 10 shaking their heads. The Cardinals simply couldn’t do anything wrong against Sharpsville in the semifinals.
They played defense. They passed the ball extremely well. And both of those things allowed the Cards to run a flawless offense that included outstanding swings from all five of their hitters as they beat the Blue Devils, 25-12, 25-12.
Krystal Kline led the way with 10 kills. Sarah Jacobs, Brittney Fowler, Nicole White and Kellilyn Dickson combined for 16 more. Fowler also had six service aces.
“We were ready,” Fowler said. “And we played the way we know we’re capable of playing.”
The question after that match, though, was whether or not the Cardinals could keep it up against Maplewood, who beat Youngsville 25-12, 25-22 to advance to the final.
“We knew Maplewood would be tough,” White said. “We know we can beat them and they know they can beat us.”
“They were just as tired as we were,” Fowler added. “We just had to give our 110 percent and hope they gave 100.”
Fortunately, that worked out for the Cards.
“Both teams wanted the District 10 championship,” Maplewood coach Sheila Bancroft said. “We knew we had our work cut out for us. They beat us all season long. I thought we gave them a good battle, but they outplayed us.
“It’s the first time, I told the girls, that I stood on this side and have taken a second place trophy and deserved it. They outplayed us.”
Both Cochranton (18-0) and Maplewood (14-4) advance to the first round of the PIAA Class A state playoffs. Cochranton will play eighth-ranked Clarion at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Penn State Behrend. Maplewood will take on WPIAL champion West Shamokin at 6 p.m. Tuesday at North Allegheny High School.
Local Sports
Cardinals win fifth D-10 title in six years with win over Tigers
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