Saturday, November 13, 1999
Bacon rallies to reach final
Faces Galion in volleyball championship today
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Roger Bacon players celebrate their semifinal victory.
(Tony Jones photo)
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FAIRBORN — Words didn't come easily for Roger Bacon volleyball coach Caryl Schawe during the three-minute intermission Friday between the first and second games of a Division II state semifinal match.
Roger Bacon had lost the first game 15-10 to Millersburg West Holmes.
“I told the girls I was embarrassed and disappointed,” Schawe said. “We were not only letting the school down but also our league (Girls Greater Cincinnati League) and the region.”
After the talk, the Spartans rallied for a 10-15, 16-14, 15-7 victory at Wright State University's Nutter Center.
The Spartans (23-5) move on to today's 1:30p.m. championship match against Galion — a 15-10, 15-6 winner over Salem. This is Roger Bacon's second appearance in the final four, the other coming in 1985 when the Spartans lost in the semifinals.
“Our five seniors got together after Coach Schawe talked,” senior hitter Liz Hunt said. “We've waited a long time for this, and the seniors vowed to do it for each other and for the school.”
Also during the intermission, Schawe challenged senior setter/outside hitter Kim Boehmer to take over as the leader.
“Kim was tentative in the first game and didn't play well,” Schawe said. “But she stepped up and took over. We set her five or six in a row, and she put it away.”
Although the Spartans played with more intensity in the second game, victory didn't come easily.
Roger Bacon trailed throughout until Boehmer came through with three consecutive kills and Hunt added a serving ace, enabling Roger Bacon to rally from a 10-7 deficit into a 12-10 lead.
West Holmes fought back to tie the score 14-14, but the young Lady Knights committed two unforced errors that enabled Roger Bacon to force a third game.
“We had a chance at 10-7, but we didn't put them away,” West Holmes coach Jim Park said. “We're a young team, and the girls became tight.”
West Holmes started two sophomores and four juniors while Roger Bacon countered with five seniors and standout freshman Emily Withers (nine kills, 15 assists).
“Cincinnati teams are known for good ball control and outstanding defense,” Park said. “These are the hardest type of teams to beat.”
West Holmes took a quick 6-3 lead in the third game but Boehmer, Withers, Hunt, Jodi Goller and Joanna Salzl took over, rallying Roger Bacon to a 10-7 lead and the eventual victory.
“How many years have we waited for this opportunity and everyone was excited,” Schawe said. “Nobody sacrificed more, and it has been frustrating the past six seasons with St. Ursula in this division.”
Roger Bacon, a team whose tallest starter is 5-foot-9, won't have an easy road to the state title against Galion (26-2).
The Tigers will have the height advantage, starting five players at least 5-9: Jacqueline Reeve (5-9), Kristin Fox (5-10), Karri Miller (5-10), Danielle Holt (5-11) and Olivia Roston (5-9).
“I watched Roger Bacon during warmup, and they can really hit the ball,” Galion coach Jill Wilt said. “But this doesn't mean anything if they can't do the same under game conditions.”
Boehmer led Roger Bacon with 14 kills and 18 assists; Goller had nine kills; and Hunt had six kills.
Tickets are available at the gate for the championship game.
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