Friars hold off Kellenberg to claim title
St. Anthony's celebrates their victory over Kellenberg with their fans during the CHSAA girls volleyball final at St. Dominic High School. (Nov. 8, 2011) Credit: Barry Sloan
Despite a roster chock full of underclassmen, the St. Anthony's girls volleyball team had a dynasty to protect.
And in five heart-stopping games the No. 2 Friars hung on, defeating No. 1 Kellenberg, 26-24, 20-25, 26-24, 19-25, 25-22, to win their fourth straight NSCHSAA title. St. Anthony's (14-2), which ended the season on a 14-match winning streak, came back from a 10-4 deficit in the deciding fifth set.
In Game 1, sophomore Julia Forster broke a tie at 23 to give St. Anthony's game point, but on the ensuing point, a ball that appeared to be going long was touched by a Friars player to extend the game. In extra points, Forster struck again, authoring the kill that clinched the opening game for St. Anthony's.
The Firebirds (13-3) took Game 2, only to fall again in extra points in Game 3, as a perfectly executed set from Carly Garone to Johanna Impellizeri (19 blocks) gave the Friars a 23-20 lead. Down 25-24, a wide kill attempt from Kellenberg put St. Anthony's ahead two games-to-one.
Kellenberg would answer with Kelly Byrne serving late in Game 4. Leading 22-19, she placed in the left corner that forced a weak Friars return. She extended the next point with a crucial dig from the back row.
Byrnes' clutch serving forced the seemingly inevitable Game 5 between teams who split two regular season meetings.
The two-time defending CHSAA state titleholding Friars won with five sophomores on its roster, a youth movement that paid immediate, if not unexpected, dividends.
And in the deciding game, the young guns came through and preserved a dynasty that hung in the balance.
The Friars will go for their third straight CHSAA title at St. Mary's High School near Buffalo, N.Y., on Saturday.
