Scarborough volleyball wins gritty match against talented York squad
Elena Pijunovic jumps for a shot during Scarborough's 5-0 win over York on Monday in York. (Steve Craig/Staff Writer)
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YORK — Scarborough High’s volleyball team knew it was in for a series of tests to end the regular season.
The Red Storm passed a difficult exam Tuesday, beating Class B power York in five games, 25-18, 20-25, 21-25, 25-12, 15-10.
“It was really nice to win a fifth set because we haven’t won a fifth set at all this year,” said Scarborough’s high-flying outside hitter Caleb Atwood.
Scarborough, ranked eighth in the latest Varsity Maine poll, improved to 8-4 and will finish its Class A schedule against Kennebunk on Thursday and then No. 1 ranked Thornton on Monday.
“We end with a really difficult schedule,” said Scarborough coach Nicole Petherbridge. “We play a lot of tough opponents. It could hurt us in the standings, but I think it’s preparing us to peak at the right time.
York (9-3), the Class B runner-up the past two years, is ranked fifth in the poll. All of the Wildcats’ losses have been in five-game matches against top teams, including Thornton and defending Class B champion Washington Academy. York finishes its season at Greely, the only team to beat Washington Academy this season.
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BIG POINT
York utilized an all-senior lineup on Senior Night in the first game. Neither team was particularly sharp to start, with Scarborough overcoming eight service errors to win the game.
The Wildcats went to their regular starting lineup, featuring junior outside hitter Evie Martin, and held sway in the next two games. Martin notched seven kills in Game 2 and Elizah Roe had three, including a powerful hit from the back row. In the third game, Ava Walker keyed a separating 9-0 York run with three service aces.
York took an early 3-1 lead in the fourth game when it won the longest rally of the entire match, one that featured numerous defensive digs by both teams. In that moment, York appeared ready to close out the match.
Instead, Scarborough won nine of the next 10 points and never really looked back.
“That is the beauty and the horror of volleyball,” said York coach Deanna Martin. “It’s all in the momentum, and it’s very, very mental. As teams get runs and points, it’s very hard mentally as an athlete to respond to that, and it takes a lot of work to learn that skill.”
DIVERSIFY
In York’s second- and third-game wins, both teams’ attack flowed primarily through one person; Martin for York and Atwood for Scarborough.
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It was when Atwood’s supporting cast found their groove in the final two games that Scarborough got the upper hand. Middle hitters Lexi Cowie and Calli Juhring were both strong defensive presences, with Cowie notching three kills and block point in the fifth game. Right-side hitter Elena Pijunovic had been swinging big with intent throughout the match and found the spots for kills in the fourth game. Ani Perkins used tips and hits to keep York’s defense guessing.
Overall good defense, i.e., the first pass, led to consistently on-target sets from Natalie Philibert.
UNSUNG HERO
Scaroborough sophomore Sophy Jin was used as a serving specialist and shined, particularly in the final two games. Jin had five service points in each of the last two games and three total aces. In the momentum-swinging fourth game, Jin also had a backset to find Atwood in her favorite position on the far left that Atwood buried to the court for a 4-3 lead, igniting the pivotal run.
Suzann Link was another Scarborough serving standout, with 11 total points.
STATISTICS
• Scarborough: Caleb Atwood, 18 kills, one ace; Lexi Cowie, 10 kills, three blocks; Elena Pijunovic, eight kills; Ani Perkins, six kills.
• York: Evie Martin, 16 kills; Elizah Roe, 5 kills; Ava Walker, five aces; Sophie Coite, three kills, two blocks.
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Tagged: scarborough red storm, york wildcats
Steve Craig reports primarily about Maine’s active high school sports scene and, more recently, the Portland Hearts of Pine men's professional soccer team. His first newspaper job was covering Maine. More by Steve Craig
