Sunday, November 14, 1999
MND repeats state volleyball title
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Mount Notre Dame celebrates its state title.
(Ernest Coleman photo)
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FAIRBORN — The play would make highlight films on all the national networks. It turned the momentum and enabled Mount Notre Dame to win a second consecutive Division I state volleyball championship.
The Cougars beat Rocky River Magnificat 15-10, 16-14 at Wright State University's Nutter Center.
In the second game, a Magnificat player spiked the ball off the shoulder of Mount Notre Dame's Michelle Emming, and the ball was headed toward the floor when Krista Mestancik stuck out her right arm. The ball hit Mestancik's wrist and angled over the net, falling about three inches inside the line.
Before the ball hit the floor, the Magnificat players broke into celebration before realizing that they hadn't scored.
“Our girls were a little deflated after the play,” Magnificat coach Jennifer Kathe said. “We should have played until the whistle.”
Mount Notre Dame was awarded the ball, trailing 11-4. The play shifted momentum and helped the Cougars regroup, and they went on to win the second and deciding game 16-14.
“I never saw the ball,” Emming said. “I guess I was at the right place at the right time. I could sense a letdown by them (Magnificat) after that play.”
After the play, MND fought back to 11-7 before the the Blue Streaks ran off two more points for what appeared to be a safe lead.
However, Pam Brannen came up with a block and Anne Mitchell followed with five consecutive serving points — two on aces — to pull the Cougars to within one at 13-12.
“Anne has been consistent serving, blocking and hitting all season,” coach Donna Mechley said. “She's not a vocal player, but is a quiet leader.”
Mitchell never doubted the Cougars would win it in two games.
“I felt them let down after that shot and the celebrating pumped us up,” Mitchell said. “We never give up, and I knew from the beginning that it wouldn't go three games.”
After Mount Notre Dame pulled even at 14-14, Magnificat commited two unforced errors, giving the match to Mount Notre Dame and setting off a wild celebration.
The state championship is Mount Notre Dame's third in the past five years. They previously won in 1995, Janet Jaeger's final year of coaching, and '98.
The first two years after Mechley took over, the Cougars were 8-15 and 4-20, prompting some parents to call for her firing.
Mount Notre Dame played like defending state champions in Saturday's first game. The Cougars jumped to a 4-1 lead and never trailed.
But that changed in the second game. With Magnificat's Mollie Murphy serving, the Blue Streaks took a quick 6-0 lead and extended it to 11-4 before the “play of the match” turned it around.
“Even at 11-3, I was confident that it wouldn't go three,” Mechley said. “We weren't playing good defense and the girls knew they weren't playing our game.”
Sarah Arlinghaus, who contributed nine assists, was happy, but sad too.
“It's a sad day because the seven seniors grew up together and this was our last match,” Arlinghaus said. “There was more pressure this season, but we knew we would win it all along.”
Mount Notre Dame's attack was spread out with Brannen coming through with seven kills, followed by Mitchell (6), Michelle Emming (5), Mestancik (4) and Liz Engel (3). Meghan Meador and Arlinghaus each had nine assists.
“This championship feels better than the first,” Mechley said. “Mentor was an easy victory last year, but Magnificat was a tremendous team.”
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