Volleyball

The Dig Pink Volleyball Tournament was held at Grace Academy in October to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness - Cumberland Valley. The event raised $802 with a volleyball game between Grace Academy and Broadfording Christian Academy, along with bake sales during the games.

Hancock multisport athlete Sara Elizabeth Wagner is like a lot of high school seniors - one of her biggest concerns revolves around where she'll attend college. Wagner, who has played volleyball, basketball and softball for the Panthers, started using the National Collegiate Scouting Association athletic recruiting website in an effort to find a college that will allow her to continue her athletic and academic pursuits. It just so happens Wagner, a middle hitter, found a volleyball program interested in her ... and it wasn't one she expected at all. Wagner has been selected by American International Sports Teams to be part of their volleyball squad, which will carry the USA banner at United World Games 2013 in Klagenfurt, Austria, from June 20-23.

Pulse correspondent Amelia McCarty interviews participants in the teen volleyball program at the Fort Ritchie Community Center.

Volleyball The MVAL Antietam title could very well be decided on Monday when North Hagerstown (3-1, 2-0) hosts Williamsport (4-0, 3-0) in a matchup of the league's only two unbeaten teams. The Wildcats haven't dropped a game all season in sweeping its four opponents. Williamsport has been led by middle hitter Stacey Christy (3.67 kills, 2.00 blocks per game) - who leads Washington County Public Schools players in kill percentage (.427) - and outside hitter Sam Kelly, who gets it done at the net (2.33 kills)

HCC volleyball coach to retire By BOB PARASILITI / Staff Writer Marlys Palmer felt an alarm go off the other day. It jolted her to realize it was time to make a change. continued For Palmer, the change will be to retire as Hagerstown Community College's volleyball coach after 22 years of service. It was a pain-staking decision that only became apparent on Monday and will become official at 2 p.m. today at a press conference at the HCC athletic complex.

North volleyball sweeps Wheaton By JACK HILL III / Staff Correspondent Friday night totally belonged to the North Hagerstown Hubs' volleyball team. It just took 50 minutes for the Hubs to sweep the Wheaton Knights 15-1, 15-6, 15-0 in the first round of the Maryland Class 3A West Region playoffs. North (11-4) will travel to South Carroll on Monday for the region quarterfinal match. North senior setter Nicole Morgan led the way with 22 assists, giving her 395 on the season and the Tri-State area lead.

MERCERSBURG, Pa. - The James Buchanan Rockets had a hard time shaking off the Southern Fulton Indians on Monday night. However, the Rockets were still able to pull out a close victory over the Indians 15-13, 15-12 in a Pennsylvania high school volleyball match. "Last time, we lost when we were down there," James Buchanan coach Erica Piper said. "The girls knew that they had to pick it up tonight. The girls have been working hard. This week is a big week, because it is our last week.

Washington County Boonsboro Warriors Coach: Wendi Smith Years at School: 3rd year Career Record: 24-11 Last Year: 16-3 Playoffs: Lost to Williamsport in Md. Class 1A West championship. Returning Starters (4): Jessie Ambrose, Jr., S; Caitlyn Selby, Jr., OS; Kim Snavely, Jr., DS; Kasi Harris, Jr., MH. Remainder Of Team: Lynnae Messner, Sr., H; Alyssa Lum, Jr., H; Kirby Taylor, Jr., DH; Lia Vancleave, Jr., s. Laura Michael, Jr., DS; Samantha Frew, Jr., MH; Jerica Hewett, So., MH; Tara Garver, Fr., S. Broadfording Lions Coach: Sarah Derr Years At School: 2nd year Career Record: 18-7 Last Year: 18-7 Playoffs: Lost to Heritage Academy in semifinals of MDCC Tournament.

SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. - Shepherd College freshman Susanna Hill was named to the First Community Bank WVIAC Volleyball All-Tournament Team. Hill, a Grace Academy graduate, had 16 kills and eight digs in a 3-0 victory over WVU-Tech on Thursday and followed with 12 kills in a 3-0 loss to Alderson-Broaddus on Friday. The Rams end the season at 18-14.

The Saint James volleyball team won its third straight Saint James Invitational Tournament on Saturday. The Saints won all 10 games it played in the tournament and defeated Berkeley Springs in the final, 25-14, 25-20. Lindsey Gish was the tournament MVP with 50 points, 23 aces and 61 assists. Callan Spicher had 32 points, 10 aces, 27 digs and 15 kills, Jordan Wills had 35 digs and 15 kills, Elizabeth Draper had 100 percent serving (29-for-29) and 10 digs, Sunny Bae had 19 points, seven aces, 26 digs and 11 kills and Myers Rhoad had 11 points and 17 digs.

Since her daughter's death a year ago, Jonna Vinci said she has been hearing stories about what a wonderful person Samantha Kelly was. “I've been proud all year,” Vinci said Sunday afternoon during an event at The Improved Order of Red Men Tribe 84 in Williamsport to raise money for a scholarship program in Kelly's honor. Members of the championship Williamsport High School girls volleyball team made the memories even sweeter for Vinci. Members of the team - of which Kelly once served as the captain - presented Vinci with a ring that had Kelly's name, team number and “in memory of” inscribed on it. Vinci showed the silver ring as she and her husband, Brian, checked people in at the fundraiser.

Hancock multisport athlete Sara Elizabeth Wagner is like a lot of high school seniors - one of her biggest concerns revolves around where she'll attend college. Wagner, who has played volleyball, basketball and softball for the Panthers, started using the National Collegiate Scouting Association athletic recruiting website in an effort to find a college that will allow her to continue her athletic and academic pursuits. It just so happens Wagner, a middle hitter, found a volleyball program interested in her ... and it wasn't one she expected at all. Wagner has been selected by American International Sports Teams to be part of their volleyball squad, which will carry the USA banner at United World Games 2013 in Klagenfurt, Austria, from June 20-23.

Peyton Wallech helped guide North Hagerstown's volleyball team to two straight Maryland Class 3A state championships. Now she wants to help Hagerstown Community College soar to new heights. Wallech, the 2012 Herald-Mail Washington County Volleyball Player of the Year and three-time All-County first-team standout, signed a letter of intent on Wednesday to play for the Hawks beginning this fall. “We're very excited. This is very big for us,” HCC coach Ann Reynolds said. It's arguably the biggest signing for the Hawks since Magda Tekiel joined HCC as a freshman in 2007 and earned first-team NJCAA All-American honors while leading the nation with 5.49 kills per set. The Hawks finished seventh at that year's NJCAA Division II national tournament, their best finish ever.

The Dig Pink Volleyball Tournament was held at Grace Academy in October to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness - Cumberland Valley. The event raised $802 with a volleyball game between Grace Academy and Broadfording Christian Academy, along with bake sales during the games.

May 2013 bring you good health and happiness.   Ham sandwich sale The West Hagerstown Lions Club is selling baked and country ham sandwiches in January. Baked ham sandwiches cost $2 each and country ham sandwiches cost $2.50 apiece. For more information or to order sandwiches, call 301-797-4499.   Volleyball for girls There will be an open volleyball session for girls ages 11 to 14 on Friday evenings from 8 to 9:30 p.m. The session will run from Jan. 4 until the end of May. There will be instruction, match play and possible tournament participation for all levels of play.

North Hagerstown volleyball coach Megan Crawford gave senior middle hitter Peyton Wallech more responsibility this season than ever before. After winning their first state championship in Maryland Class 3A last year, the Hubs lost four starters - including 2011 Herald-Mail Washington County Player of the Year Autumn Fisher - to graduation. Wallech was asked to pick up her game in all areas - becoming North's go-to hitter as well as staying on the floor and playing on the back row - and responded with a sensational season that helped carry the Hubs to a second straight Class 3A state title.

How do you choose a 2012 Washington County Volleyball Coach of the Year between Smithsburg's Rachel Brashear, Williamsport's Emily Crabtree and North Hagerstown's Megan Crawford - all of whom led their teams to state championships this season? Never before has Washington County won three state volleyball titles in one season - and the Leopards, Wildcats and Hubs all did so without dropping a single set in the state tournament. So what choice is there? To deny any of the three coaches the honor after the jobs they all did this season would be unfair.

Washington County high school volleyball has a long and storied history - one that included 24 state championships and 48 state semifinals appearances in the 37 years the state tournament had been held prior to this year. It takes a lot for county volleyball to achieve something never before seen in its history. Yet that's exactly what Smithsburg, Williamsport and North Hagerstown combined to achieve in 2012. For the first time, Washington County teams won three state championships in a single season.

They wanted to win to give Washington County three state volleyball titles in one season for the first time ever. They wanted to win to put last year's playoff upset loss to Middletown behind them forever. They wanted to win to give Williamsport its 13th state volleyball championship. But more than anything, the Wildcats wanted to win for Sam. With the tragic death of Samantha Rae Kelly - who was killed along with Brendon Colliflower in an auto accident in May following their senior Prom - fresh in their minds, the Wildcats paid tribute to her the best way they could: By winning a state title.

Ever since an upset loss to Middletown in last year's Maryland Class 2A West quarterfinals, Williamsport's volleyball team has been on a mission to win the 2012 state title. The Wildcats (18-1) are one victory away from achieving that goal, but it won't come easy. Williamsport will face equally talented Calvert (15-1) Monday at 6 p.m. in the Class 2A state final at the University of Maryland's Ritchie Coliseum. “I think maybe the two best (Class 2A) teams in the state will be playing on Monday,” said Williamsport coach Emily Crabtree while watching Calvert defeat North Caroline in Tuesday's state semifinals.