11/7/18
Maybe it was the moment of being in unchartered territory.
Or perhaps it was the fact that they were playing an opponent that had been here before with a lot of recent success.
Either way, the difference in play between an experienced squad that had been in this situation before versus an inexperienced team that hasn’t been here in more than two-plus decades showed last night at Upper Dublin High School in in the opening round of PIAA State Class 4A Volleyball Tournament as Emmaus the girls volleyball team saw their season come to an end following a three-set sweep to Garnet Valley team 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-23)
“We knew that they were going to be tough and they are a really good team that knows where to put the ball,” said Emmaus head coach Gwen Millets whose team was making its first state appearance since 1995. “Their libero (Rachel Cain) was outstanding.
“[We were also hurt by] those unforced errors that seem to get us every time,” she added. “It’s just hard to take right now knowing that your season is over.”
Competing in the state playoffs for the first time in 23 years, the Hornets had tough opening draw facing a Garnet Valley team that was 20-3 overall and finished runner-up in District One. The Jaguars also had been battle-tested in the state playoffs the last two years, reaching the semifinals a year ago and winning the state title back in 2016.
Garnet Valley waisted little time in establishing its toughness from the opening whistle as they jumped out to a nine-point lead (15-6) in Set 1 before eventually pulling away for a 25-17 win.
Emmaus, playing without a key member of their back line, senior libero Rebecca Dalstad (out with a concussion), battled in Set 2 to tie the match at 20-20 but the Jags scored the last five points to take a commanding 2-0 lead.
Needing a win in Set 3, the Hornets found themselves down 14-7 before rallying to get the match even at 20-all. Unfortunately, Emmaus couldn’t keep the momentum going as Garnet Valley made it a clean sweep winning 25-23.
The senior-laiden Jags were led on offense by Ally Hartney who had a solid all-around performance with a game-high 18 kills to go along with two blocks and three aces.
Classmate Emma Rokosky also had a big game with 14 kills, six digs and two aces, while another senior, Julia Bowes, was strong defensively with 28 digs. Cain handed out a game-high 41 assists and had two digs, three aces and two kills in an outstanding effort.
Garnet Valley (20-3) advances to Saturday’s quarterfinal round to take on District 3 champion Cumberland Valley.
For Emmaus, junior Macy Van Den Elzen led the team with 13 kills. Sophomore Jaya Bhagat added nine kills and fellow sophomore Makenzie Krasley had seven.
Defensively, senior Caroline Bond closed out a tremendous four-year career by dishing out a team-best 26 assists to go along with 10 digs. Junior Kelsie Baus added nine digs, and senior Caley McLaughin had six.
Emmaus closes the books on a 25-7-1 season and the careers of its five seniors: Bond, Dalstad, McLaughlin, Georgia Duddy and Hannah Lingold.
“Every year it gets harder to say goodbye to my seniors and this year is no different,” said an emotional Millets, just moments after addressing her team for the final time this season. ” They are five wonderful girls with great personalities and they are athletes through and through and I’ve enjoyed watching them play. I’m certainly going to miss them a lot. ”
Garnet Valley 3, Emmaus 0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-23)
PIAA State TournamentÂ
Emmaus stats:
Macy Van Den Elzen 13 kills
Jaya Bhagat 9 kills
Makenzie Krasley 7 kills
Caley McLaughlin 6 digs
Kelsie Baus 9 digs
Caroline Bond 26 assists, 10 digs
(Updated 4:50 p.m.)