RESERVOIR VOLLEYBALL FINDS REDEMPTION

by Derek Toney

A season of redemption ended with a resounding exclamation point for Reservoir High School's volleyball team.

The Gators captured their first state championship Saturday night, sweeping Huntingtown, 25-13, 25-22 and 25-19, for Class 3A crown at the University of Maryland's Ritchie Coliseum. In winning the first state title for the Howard County school, Reservoir was the only title squad Saturday to sweep.

A year ago, Reservoir was seemingly on its way to the 2A state championship, but a 2-0 lead turned into a stunning five-game loss to North East. In the months since, the Gators distanced themselves from last year's final contest.

"I really tried not to focus on last year because when you put in the forefront of your mind, you can make it a reality," said Reservoir coach Carole Ferrante. "It was about this year's team accomplishing the goals we've set out."

"We set our goals as winning the triple crown - the Howard County championship, the regional championship and the state championship," said Gators' senior setter Alexis Rukenbrod. "We accomplished them all."

Jamie Huffman had 12 kills and 12 digs to lead Reservoir (20-0), and Julie Poston added 10 kills. Lauren Jeschelnick led Huntingtown (17-2) with seven kills and nine assists, and Jordan Bittner had six kills and 13 digs.

It was deja-vu for the Gators on the Richie Coliseum court, taking the first two matches including a 16-5 run in the opening match. Reservoir led 16-10 in the second game, but Huntingtown took the lead at 17-16 on a kill by Jeschelnick. A nice short dink over the net by Jeschelnick followed two Gators shot landing out extended the Hurricanes' lead to 20-16.

A net violation on Huntingtown, tying the game at 22, was the window of opportunity for Reservoir. Poston and Susie Kemp stopped a Hurricane shot, then Poston got another a point at the net, putting the Gators on the verge at 24-22. A Huntingtown shot landed in the net, closing out game two.   

"The drills that we do all the time when you're down 21-17, you have to come out of the hole and finish," said Ferrante. "These girls, no matter who played, no matter what was going on, always found their way back."

Trailing 18-16 in the third game, the Gators pulled even with kills by Lanham and Huffman, which may have been the final blows to Huntingtown's hopes. The Hurricanes put Reservoir in position with several errors, and Poston capped the sweep with a kill.

While the Gators were able to exorcised their past, Huntingtown's agony was extended. The Calvert County school lost its third consecutive title game. Hurricanes coach Shari Turner said her team wasn't able to sustain any momentum other than the surge in game two.

"Reservoir made it difficult to be our night," said Turner. "It's important to note that this is the third straight we've finished second. It's a pretty good finish making it to the end of the season."

"We were determined after losing one. To be on that team for three years, it must be frustrating," said Ferrante. "But at that the same time, I would've felt worst if it wasn't us."

Ferrante said she was nervous when a Reservoir student ran into Ritchie Coliseum and with a broom after game two. Unlike last year, the Gators finished.  

"We're not determined by what happens to us, but how we react to what happens, not by what life brings us but by the attitude we bring to life," Huffman reading an inspirational note that each player had in their shoe this year. "Positive attitude causes chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It's a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results."

"So we would say the extraordinary result of this game was the state championship and we were the catalyst," Lukenbrod followed. "We have to make this happen ourselves, and never get down on ourselves and our teammates. No matter what happens, missed serves, missed hits, just keep positive."