by Derek Toney
dtoney@digitalsports.com
Beth Tfiloh coach Sonya Howell said 2008 was a new beginning for the volleyball team. On the first day of the 11th month, the Warriors found themselves in a different realm: Champions.
Beth Tfiloh won the IAAM C Conference title with a three-game sweep of Catholic at Roland Park Country School Saturday evening. It’s the first IAAM volleyball championship for the Old Court Road school.
"We were prepared from the minute we got on the court," said Warriors senior setter/outside hitter Samara Ashpes. "We were motivated, we practiced hard all season for this. We were ready."
"It’s been frustrating the past few years," said senior outside hitter Jen Holzman. "We’ve made it to the semifinals, but haven’t taken that next step. We were determined this year and weren’t going to lose."
Beth Tfiloh (13-3 overall) was able to make that championship step behind senior nucleus of Holzman, Ashpes, Lindsay Harris (outside hitter) and Emily Sellman (setter/outside hitter). They’ve been playing together since middle school.
"It was bound to happen," said Howell in his 13th season. "They’ve worked so hard all year long. Our main goal was to do our best and win a championship, if it led to it."
The Warriors knew the path would have to go through Catholic (12-6), which was second behind them in the Red Division during the regular season. The teams split two five-set marathons, but it was all Beth Tfiloh in the rubber match.
The Warriors were a point away from closing out game one before Catholic rallied to tie at 24. Beth Tfiloh withstood it to win the final two points, the last coming on a Cubs’ shot landing out of the bounds.
Trailing 13-12, Beth Tfiloh won 13 of the final 17 points to take a commanding 2-0 lead. The Warriors jumped out to a 8-1 lead in game three, but Catholic pulled even at 19.
The Cubs weren’t able to sustain the momentum as well as their hopes for the first volleyball championship since 1995. Catholic coach Harry Amato said his team wasn’t able to break Beth Tfiloh’s defense.
"We played a great game, but we couldn’t get anything past them," said Amato. "We hit deep, they got to it. We hit the center, they dug it out. They realized they were giving them to their best shot and they couldn’t get points against them."
"We were ready for their free balls, we were ready for their hits, we were ready for their serves," said Howell. "Our defense was really prepared."
Howell credited assistant coach Michelle Clarke for the defensive adjustments. Clarke was a former standout at Towson High.
Beth Tfiloh had the smallest roster among the six teams playing on Championship Saturday with eight players suited. But the Warriors proved eight is more than enough.
"The number eight means new beginning and that how we approached 2008," said Howell. "We had a clean slate. We went out there to do our best and let the chips fall where they may."
