Mann, Hartney in middles of another Garnet Valley win in district volleyball
CONCORD >> No matter what was going on during any given match, Garnet Valley volleyball coach Greg Wood has been able to count on his middle hitters, senior Ally Hartney and junior Samantha Mann, to come through when the Jags needed it most.
The pair has been a model of consistency and that was true again Thursday as third-seeded Garnet Valley topped 14th-seeded Council Rock South, 3-0, to advance to the quarterfinal round of the District 1 Class 4A tournament.
On a day when GV’s service game was a little off, Hartney and Mann were there to help the Jaguars hold off the feisty Golden Hawks, 25-15, 25-20, 26-24, to advance to a game Saturday against the winner of Thursday’s game between No. 6 Plymouth Whitemarsh and No. 11 Perkiomen Valley.
Mann and Hartney pounded nine kills each. The 6-4 Mann had four blocks and Hartney three. All-Delco setter Rachel Cain added 30 assists and six digs, and Julia Bowes (six aces, 13 digs), Emma Rokosky (five kills, 13 digs, two aces) and Gwen Clark four kills, 11 digs, three aces) came up big, too. But it was Mann and Harney who received high praise from CRS coach John Wright.
“Our two middles usually do a nice job because they’re better than the other team’s middles, but this was the first time all year we faced two middles that were better than our middles,” he said. “They were really good.”
Wright was not done complimenting the Jags.
“Their setter is the best I’ve seen,” Wright said. “They can do it all. I haven’t see Upper Merion or Bishop Shanahan (the top two seeds in the tournament), but they beat (Garnet Valley) so I can’t imagine how good they are. It’s scary that somebody could beat them. I expected what I got. I would have paid money to see this.”
Wright got in for free and had a front row seat to see Hartney and Mann go to work. Every time Garnet Valley needed a lift, Hartney and Mann delivered, usually off an assist from Cain, who finished with 30 helpers and six digs. Hartney had three kills in the first set, including one for the final point. Mann had three kills in the second set, including the one that put the Jaguars up for good.
“Our coach has been great about telling us to terminate the ball,” Mann said. “Even if our serves are off he still wants us to swing all the way through the ball and go aggressive to the ball. We have to remember to stay aggressive.”
Wood also has asked Hartney and Mann to be the leaders of the team, along with Cain.
“Greg has put that on us and it’s kind of fun,” Hartney said. “I like the challenge. I think it puts me in a spot to know that I’m helping to build up my team and get them excited.”
Garnet Valley’s joy reached its peak when Hartney pounded a kill to forge a 24-24 tie in the third set. Mann’s final big swing put the Jags in front and a kill by senior Alana Hagerty sealed the deal.
“When it mattered most, and what’s helped us all year, is our middles,” Wood said. “Sam and Ally came through … And we played with a lot of energy and heart. The sky’s the limit for this group of girls.”
