Exeter ousts Central York in District 3 AAA volleyball quarterfinals
The Central York girls’ volleyball team wanted to take that next step.
After its season ended last year at Dallastown High School during the quarterfinal round of the District 3 Class AAA tournament in a loss to Garden Spot, the Panthers hungered for at least one more game.
Tuesday they returned to Dallastown for a quarterfinal round matchup, this time against Exeter.
After losing Game 1, the Panthers found themselves tied at 23 in Game 2.
Two points away from bringing the score even and grabbing the all important momentum for a pivotal Game 3, the Eagles closed out the second game with back-to-back kills to take a commanding lead.
The Panthers continued to fight in Game 3, but again came up just short and were swept, 25-17, 25-23, 28-26.
“I think we just got nervous because we were just so close to what we’ve been wanting for so long. If we had won that (second) game we would have been even, and we would have been on our way to maybe winning,” Panthers senior Andrea Quartey said.
In Game 2, the Panthers trailed 20-17, but evened the score thanks to a terrific kill by Emily Poole, which ended a fantastic rally on both sides. Karah Slow followed with back-to-back aces, which forged the 13th tie of the game.
The Eagles regained the lead on Sara Wesley’s perfect little touch over the net that found a hole on the floor.
Central dropped the next two points and trailed 23-20, before the Panthers rallied again.
It was 23-all before the Eagles got kills from Danielle Faust (13 kills) and Gabby Stick (11 digs) to end the game.
“It comes down to the small plays. A play here or there could cost you a win or loss,” Panthers head coach Nate Ocasio said. “Bottom line is you just have to win the final two points of the game.”
The two teams met earlier in the season at the Cumberland Valley tournament, where they split.
“They served really well, and they are a big physical team that can put balls away,” Ocasio said.
Exeter played more at full strength Tuesday than they did during that early season tournament.
“We were a little healthier tonight. One of the starters was coming back from injury and played sparingly in that (CV) tournament,” Exeter head coach Jason Grove said. “We served pretty tough tonight and were able to get them out of system and they couldn’t use Andrea and Emily as effectively as they wanted to.”
The Panthers will graduate five seniors that helped Central win the Division I title this season — 29 years after the team last won it.
“This group did a phenomenal job of working through some things at the beginning of the year and finding their rhythm and being able to jell together as a unit,” Ocasio said. “This one is tough to swallow because I’ve never seen a group fight so hard and will themselves to almost victory.”
The Eagles, who list nine seniors out of the 14 players on their roster, are making the most of their final opportunity together.
“We’re all in. This is the last hurrah. They have been starting and playing together since they were sophomores, and it’s the most talented class of athletes I’ve had the opportunity to coach,” Grove said. “It’s now or never.”
Shannon Restrepo had 35 assists and four aces for the Eagles.
Exeter Township 3, Central York 0
25-17, 25-23, 28-26 at Dallastown
Central York stats — Allison Rife (9 kills, 1 ace), Andrea Quartey (7 kills, 4 blocks), Emily Poole (7 kills, 1 block), Laura Fahs (4 kills, 2 aces, 17 digs), Taylor Krinock (2 kills, 1 ace, 2 blocks), Julia Terpak (19 assists, 6 digs), Hannah Rishel (18 digs), Kayla Resh (2 digs), Karah Slow (2 aces, 4 digs).
Exeter stats — Danielle Faust (13 kills), Shannon Restrepo (35 assists, 4 aces), Gabby Stick (11 digs), Sara Wesley (12 kills).
