Fenwick stays calm enough to win volleyball match

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By Debbie Juniewicz, Contributing Writer 11:14 PM Saturday, November 7, 2009

WILMINGTON — For Fenwick High School volleyball coach Yoon Ha, it’s all about staying calm, cool and collected — or at least appearing that way.

“One thing I have found, especially coaching girls, if that if you show panic, they will panic,” Ha said. “And we don’t panic.”

Other teams might have panicked, down two sets in the best-of-five Division III regional volleyball finals, especially against a tournament-tested team such as Versailles.

But the Falcons didn’t panic; they prevailed. Fenwick fought back against a determined Tigers team, 20-25, 25-27, 25-17, 25-19, 18-16 at Wilmington High School on Saturday, Nov. 7. Fenwick claimed its first regional volleyball title since 1982.

“We played a really tough schedule this season and we had a stretch where we played 12 matches in 13 days, so they know how to fight,” Ha said.

The Tigers gave the Falcons a fight but, down two sets, Fenwick didn’t back down, jumping out to a quick 10-4 lead in the third set and never trailing. Ha’s squad carried that momentum into the fourth set as Fenwick rattled of the first four points and led 6-1 early.

“They (Fenwick) started working their middles a lot more, and it was effective,” Versailles coach Karla Otte said.

The Tigers, down 12-24, didn’t quit, fighting off seven set points before falling 25-19. First team to 15 would be crowned regional champion — or, in this case, the first team to 19.

“These girls take a lot of pride in themselves, their team and the school, and they won’t go out without a fight,” Otte said.

Division II: Average wasn’t going to cut it

“We had some sub-par performances from a few people plus average performances from others,” Alter coach Tina Jasinowski said. “In the regional final, you have to be better than that.”

Logan Elm battled from behind to beat the Alter Knights 15-25, 15-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-12 to claim its first Division II regional title.

Alter was in control early, but the Braves didn’t want to fall to the Knights for the second time in as many tries in the regional final.

“In between sets, the girls said they didn’t want to stop playing for the season, so I told them they better start playing,” Logan Elm coach Jamie Schaal said.

Elsewhere, Marion Local defeated Lehman Catholic 25-20, 25-17, 25-20. Alyssa Winner had 22 kills, Alyse Bergman had 15 digs, and Stacey Huber had 20 assists for Marion Local. Andrea Thobe had 27 assists for Lehman Catholic.

Marion Local advances to play Hopewell-Loudon in the state semis Thursday at the Nutter Center.

Ursuline Academy defeated Mason 25-17, 25-21, 25-12. Ursuline was led by Jade Henderson, who had 14 kills.

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