October 22, 1999

Calvert closes out season with win over Mohawk

By Ed Fox
Sports Writer

There is often a carryover of momentum after winning game one in a volleyball match.

It was certainly evident Thursday as Calvert closed out the regular season with a 15-12, 15-4 win over Mohawk in a non-league battle.

Game one was an intense one for both teams as they battled back and forth with junior Laura Kuhn serving for the winning point with junior Hillary Hepp getting a big kill which hit just inside the line.

The teams were deadlocked at 1-1 early in the second game, but the Senecas, 17-4 overall, broke away with 12 straight points including eight by junior Sheena Werling and four by Kuhn. During the Werling streak, Kuhn and Hepp each delivered some big blows at the net which kept Mohawk reeling.

"All the girls are doing what they should be doing and it's the little things which are leading to the big hits and big blocks at the net," said Calvert head coach Lisa Lucius. "Our big hitters need to get the ball in the right spot to work with and the girls did a nice job setting up our hitters. We've got a big weekend coming up."

Werling was the leading server with seven points while Jen Meier followed with six, junior Kristen Kastner had five and both Kuhn and senior Audra Lewis had four apiece. Meier and Kastner each had two aces. At the net, Kuhn had 10 kills and three blocks while Werling had eight kills and two blocks, Hepp had five kills and Kastner had a pair of blocks.

"We came out very intense that first game, but we kinda let down that second game," said Mohawk first-year head coach Hope Boes. "I think the fact that we came out and was involved in a close first game and lost it played a major role in what happened in game two. There was a letdown after game one."

Mohawk, finishing the regular season at 12-9, overcame an early deficit behind the serving of junior Erin Bates who reeled off four in a row to help the Warriors take a 5-4 lead. Sophomore Megan Martin added another point for a 6-4 advantage.

But, Kastner answered with three points in a row as the Senecas took the lead for good at 7-6 and they pushed the advantage to 10-6.

Again, the Warriors had a strong surge and got two points from Bates and another from sophomore Amber Schwochow to get within one (10-9), but the Senecas got four in a row to reach game point. Senior Deanna Kirian had two points and senior Maggie Phillips added another to get Mohawk within two (14-12), before Kuhn got the winner with an assist from Hepp.

"The girls really hustled and went after everything. Kirian and Phillips really did a nice job digging the ball out and (Gail) Kingseed and Schwochow are hitting the ball well," said Boes. "The girls are playing their best ball right now and this is the time we want it to happen with sectionals coming up Saturday. I really liked the fact we played Calvert tonight because I think this will get the girls ready for the tournament."

Bates led the Warriors in serving with six points while Phillips and Martin each had three and Kirian chipped in with two. Kingseed and Schwochow each had three kills and four blocks. Kingseed also had four digs and three saves while Megan Martin had three digs and 12 assists and Leah Tanner had three saves.

With Werling leading the way with 16, the Senecas really were able to pile up the digs. Kuhn also had seven while senior Lindsay Flechtner had three and Kastner, Hepp, Lewis, senior Anita Casillas and junior Carrie Weber each had two.

"We've talked so much about not making errors. We didn't play the ball well that first game, but we did a much better job in game two," said Lucius. "Our passing and serve reception was much better that second game. We put the ball in the hands of players who did the right things. It was nice for the girls to close out the season with a win.

"We can't come out and be hesitant in the tournament like we were in game one tonight. We have to keep the ball playable. We are picking things up and the girls understand what it takes to get a win."

Both teams are involved in sectional play Saturday.

Calvert will play Old Fort in the Division IV tournament at Old Fort while Mohawk battles Otsego in the Division III sectional at Liberty-Benton.