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Northwestern finally beats Smithville, wins WCAL title outright October 13, 2007 By Jim Jicha “It’s awesome”. That’s what West Salem Northwestern hitter Kara Koch said it felt like after the Huskies defeated Smithville 25-17, 25-19, 25-18 on the road last Thursday, and garnered sole possession of the Wayne County Athletic League volleyball title. Smithville has had Northwestern’s number over the years. The Smithies have won 17 league titles over the years, including 2006 when they were 14-0. This was Northwestern’s fourth crown, and first since 1990. The Huskies have only lost three regular season matches the past two years, all to the Smithies. Two went in five games, the most recent coming last month when Northwestern seemed nervous while Smithville played great defense and missed but one serve to prevail 25-22, 19-25, 18-25, 25-21, 15-11. But there was no sign of jitters Thursday on Northwestern’s side of the floor. The Huskies' passing was crisp, their setting superb, their serves well placed, and every time Smithville started to get a rally going, either Koch or outside hitter Kristen Warner would nip it in the bud. The Huskies looked like a team on a mission, and it turns out they were. Koch said that the Huskies “really wanted to win because of Tarah, it’s her last year and she deserved it”. Outside hitter Tarah Spotts is the only senior on the team. Had Smithville won this match, they and the Huskies would have ended in a three-way tie for first with Creston Norwayne, which beat the Smithies twice but lost two times to Northwestern. Koch said being assured of at least a piece of the title, win or lose, relieved some of the pressure. Northwestern was in control much of game one as they built a 21-13 lead. At that point, Smithville scored four on a kill by sophomore Alex Leister and three errors by the Huskies. But Warner dashed hopes of a comeback with two terminations from left side, and libero Kim Bowman then prolonged a volley with some nice digs until the Smithies finally made an error. Warner tipped for the game winner. Sophomore middle Jenna Pew got Smithville off to a 5-3 lead in set two with a termination, a tip and block on Koch. Bethany Indermuhle chipped in with an ace. But Koch stopped that with a spike off the block, then served two points as Warner blasted two points. After four ties, Warner put Northwestern up for good, smoking a cross court kill and serving five points with Koch blocking an overpass and adding three kills. Smithie setter Lauren Leister dumped for a point and Pew scored on two blasts as Smithville closed a bit, but Koch terminated two volleys and blocked Pew for a 17-13 lead. The Smithies crept within 19-17 on a kill off the net by Jena Hartzler and a well placed hit from Indermuhle. Warner, however, scored key points to keep them at bay. A blast by Koch that ricocheted off two Smithie defenders ended the game. Spotts served two aces down the left line to start game three, and scored another point when Smithville couldn’t return her next delivery. The Smithies tied at 4 on a kill by Ashley Spurlock, but Koch sky hooked a hit into an empty spot and tipped an overpass of a serve by Damien Greene. And although Smithville crept within a point several more times, the Huskies led from thereon. On top 7-6, Northwestern earned the fake play of the year award when Marisa George tried to set the ball across court to the left side. Koch charged to the middle, and with the actual hitter approaching on the left, and to the astonishment of both sides, the ball drifted across the net and dropped to the floor between Smithville defenders. With Northwestern up 11-9, Spotts served three more points aided by Smithville receiving problems. Pew ended that with a blast to start a four point Smithville run, but Warner made it 15-13 and Koch 16-14, and after George served an ace and Koch spiked another kill Northwestern was up 19-15. Spotts added a kill as the lead rose to 21-16. A long volley followed that Smithville freshman Kaylie Hershberger finally ended with a kill, but Warner nipped that glimmer of hope with a kill. Two fiendish serves by Bowman put Northwestern on the verge at 24-17, and left their fans standing in eager anticipation. And when Warner ended it with a deftly placed cross court hit from her left to the line at the net on Smithville’s left, you knew Northwestern had conquered more than a conference championship. ************************************************************************* Stat leaders for Northwestern: Kristen Warner and Kara Koch had 19 and 17 kills, respectively; Tarah Spotts and Kim Bowman served 3 aces; Marissa George had 20 assists and Devon Williams 14; and, the top defenders were Bowman with 10 digs and Koch with 2 blocks.
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