Christopher Dock can’t complete rally, falls in 5 to Sacred Heart in District 1-A final

WHITEMARSH — Crazy things happen in playoff games.

With back firmly planted against the ropes Thursday night, Christopher Dock’s girls volleyball team nearly pulled off an incredible comeback. But the team on the other side of the net had been on the losing end of one of those last year.

Sacred Heart really wasn’t interested in a repeat.

“This happened last year, we were on the other side of it and they were not going to let it happen again,’ Heart coach Michelle Gatta said. “The senior captains just took over but my junior class is a heck of a class too and they fought every point.’

Heart held off Dock in the pivotal fifth game to take the District I-A volleyball championship at a raucous Plymouth Whitemarsh, 3-2 (25-12, 26-24, 11-25, 20-25, 15-9). Despite giving up a two-game lead, Heart came through thanks to contributions from plenty of key players.

For Dock, the loss stung, but it was a testament to a team that surpassed expectations. After losing six seniors last year, the young Pioneers grew up by forcing the fifth game.

“For this team to come as far as it did, I had two returning players, I had two freshmen on the court in a district final,’ Dock coach Trish Hoover said. “I can’t ask for anything more. They played awesome.’