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January 30, 2012

Coach says he thinks his girls will return to top of their class

BY GREG KLEIN

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Close, but not there yet. That’s the story of Cooperstown’s volleyball team this season, and it played out again on Monday in a 3-1 loss to visiting Waterville in a Center State Conference match.

“The season has been tough,” said Redskin coach Rich Jantzi. “I would say that for the most part we have been in every game that we have played this season.”

Trying to replace four starters and two of the better players in team history from last year’s Section III finalist, the Redskins have been working hard to find their own identity and return to their former glory. Jantzi has often called this year’s squad a bridge team, and he said he believes his girls will return to the top of their class in the future.

“It has been a humbling year for me,” he said. “I have been spoiled with the great teams of the past.”

Cooperstown is now 3-10 and needs to sweep its final two division matches to have a hope of making the sectional tournament. On Monday, the Redskins and Indians played a close match that turned on the smallest of margins. All three of the final sets were decided by two points, the final two in Waterville’s favor.

Waterville took the first set 25-12 on the strength of Brooke Staelens’ serve. Staelens served for nine straight points, to turn a 5-5 tie into a 14-5 lead.

Cooperstown came back with a strong second set although the Indians were up to the challenge. Paola Nunez served four aces, and Caitlin Breier had a good kill and three straight service points to lead the Redskins. The set was tied at 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 before Cooperstown broke through to win 28-26.

Katie Booan served an ace to make it 27-26 and Brooke Liner spiked the final point for the set winner. In the third set, the Indians clung to a two-point lead most of the way. Cooperstown took a brief lead at 13- 12 behind Bella Anannia’s five straight service points, but Waterville quickly regained its small lead.

The set was tied at 23, 24 and 25, but Waterville’s Alicia Barnes made two big plays at the net to give her team a 27-25 win. The final set was nearly a mirror image of the third set, but the result ended up being the same. Cooperstown held a small lead throughout, but lost in the final moments. A big dig by Shannon McMannus got the team started, and later in the set Erin Hascup made a similar play, going to the ground to save a ball that then dropped onto the other side of the net for a point.

Hascup’s dig made it 22-19, but Waterville rallied for the next three points and a 22-22 tie. Cooperstown scored to regain serve and take a 23-22 lead, but could not capitialize. Waterville’s Sierra Crowe served out the game for a 25-23 win.

The four-set win was a reverse of the Dec. 16 match at Waterville which Cooperstown won 3-1.

The Redskins celebrated their senior night on Monday, saying goodbye to McMannus, their senior captain, Breier, Nunez, Emily Carson, Haley Honensee and Nicole daSilva.

“Going forward, I believe we will be fine,” Jantzi said. “We have a lot of talent in the program, plus a few locals are organizing a Club Volleyball program for us that will just make us stronger. I am returning four starters, only have four seniors and a loaded JV and modified program.”

Cooperstown will hold the Cooperstown Varsity Invitational Tournament on Saturday hosting Owen D. Young, Mohawk, Frankfort-Schuyler, Stockbridge Valley and Westmoreland. The regular season ends with the Redskins hosting Westmoreland and visiting Sauquoit Valley next Tuesday and Thursday in the final division matches.

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