S’side spikers overcome ANC
by TOM UTESCHER
Winning its home opener by a 3-1 count over the Academy of the New Church,
the Springside School volleyball team evened up its record at 1-1 last Tuesday
afternoon.
The Lions had opened up the 2005-2006 campaign in a December 6 road match,
falling 1-3 to Girls Inter-Ac League rival Agnes Irwin. A member of the
Friends School League, ANC (also nicknamed “Lions”) slipped
to 1-2 in the young season with last week’s loss.
In Tuesday’s tilt there was a lot to be said for playing solid
defense and simply getting the ball back over the net; 68 of Springside’s
99 points in the match were scored on errors by the visitors. Seniors
Marilyn McCullough and Kristy Caltabiano worked hard in the trenches all
afternoon, amassing 39 and 17 digs, respectively.
Younger players also had an impact on the outcome. Sophomore Tori Roebuck
had some key kills in the final game and served four true aces (ball hits
the floor untouched), while freshman Devin McInerny and eighth grader
Courtney Caputo also gave ANC trouble from the service line and produced
solid all-round efforts.
In the first game, Springside broke out of a 13-all tie with a four-point
run that included a scoring hit by Sarah Patches. Later, ANC mishandled
hard, flat serves by Springside’s Caputo and McInerney, and another
unreturned serve, this one by Roebuck, secured game point at 25-20.
In game two, the visiting pride of Lions scratched out a 26-24 victory
to tie the match at one game apiece. Springside responded well to the
challenge, charging out to a 20-8 lead in the third round. Caltabiano,
Caputo, McInerny, Roebuck, and Steffi Fitzpatrick all scored, and the
locals went on to win 25-16.
New Church held a 13-11 edge in the third game when Springside got the
side-out on a net violation and ran off eight more unanswered points.
Roebuck recorded two aces during this stretch, and sent over five other
serves that ANC was unable to return.
The visitors fought back to within a point at 22-21, then Springside
scored a pair on an errant ANC serve and a block by McInerny. A serving
error by the hosts made it 24-22, but on the next rally New Church hit
the ball out over the right sideline to give Springside match point.
ANC received six points apiece from Danielle King and Briene Lermitte
during the contest.
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