Hawks swoop down on Region XX title

November 03, 2003|by JACK HILL III

A memorable season for Hagerstown Community College volleyball coach Beth Domenico became a whole lot more memorable.

The Hawks, who went 12-0 to win the Maryland JuCo regular season title for the first time since 1997, added the Region XX tournament title to their resumes at the HCC athletic complex Sunday afternoon for the first time since 1998.

HCC swept Allegany 30-27, 30-17, 30-26 in the semifinals before defeating four-time defending champion Catonsville 30-24, 32-30, 22-30, 30-26 in the championship.

The Hawks (26-3) qualified for the NJCAA Division II tournament at Owens Community College in Toledo, Ohio on Nov. 13-15.

"I just think that this team has deserved everything that they fought for today," Domenico said. "It is a very wonderful team. I think that we definitely peaked today. We are very proud of every single one of the players. They have worked hard all season."

HCC freshman outside hitter Meggie Miller, a Williamsport graduate, was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player and was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammates Emily Beecher and Hedgesville grad Keri Jackson.

Miller had 44 kills, 37 digs and 24 service points in Sunday's two matches, the latter against Catonsville's 6-foot-3 front row star Vanessa Happel.

"Vanessa Happel is just a wonderful player for Catonsville," Miller said. "When I went up against Vanessa, I was just trying to get it around her as much as possible. Catonsville scared me in the beginning, because they blocked every single one of my balls. But that is when our team came in and pulled through it. It took every single one of us."

Shea Storms had 104 assists and her older sister, Amanda Storms, added 31 digs and 11 kills for the Hawks on Sunday. Jackson had 45 kills and 24 digs, Beecher had 31 digs, 15 service points and 12 kills, Chelsea Jolliffe had 17 digs and 16 service points and Mandy Myers had nine kills and six blocks.

"I think that defense was the key for us to winning the title today," Domenico said. "Chelsea did a good job on defense. ... We have a lot of weapons in the front row and I think that also contributed to our win."

|

|

|