Summit looked to its last match to earn its 8th victory and wrap up the school year on a 6W-2L run. The Hilltoppers did not disappoint their fans and took the match in 2 games, 26-24, 25-22.
In typical fashion, Summit let a team come back on them late but, much like the match vs. Oak Knoll, the squad avoided a game 1 loss through key kills and magnificent pressured serving. Summit scored 20 of its 26 points through 13 kills, 6 aces and 1 block but also yielded 10 hitting errors and 2 missed serves. The Rams ended up scoring 11 points of their own and almost won game 1 despite the lopsided scoring advantage by Summit.
After Casey Nardino hit for 4 service points (2 aces) , the Rams called a time-out to settle the troops as the game was getting away from them at 17-12. Wardlaw came off the time-out with a renewed sense of purpose and nearly erased the lead in the next rotation. A Nardino kill gave the ball back to SHS leading 20-17 but the Rams found their offense as Summit couldn't get into a passing rhythm and after 11 rotations, Wardlaw-Hartridge led 22-20 as the Rams outscored Summit 10-3 during this stretch. Summit fought back to 22-22 but a kill and a bad pass later, SHS was facing a 24-22 deficit. A perfect pass by Jocelyn Mendez led to a quick middle attack that Nardino put down the get Gabby Mejia up at the service line. Summit rattled off 3 consecutive points thanks to the offensive contributions of Nardino who nailed 7 kills in the game.
Game 2 saw the Hilltoppers jump out to a 5-0 lead early on but the Rams would, yet again, try to chip away at the lead but the Hilltoppers stayed in control and went on 2 separate 5-1 and 4-0 runs that blew the game open at 17-7. The insurmountable lead was very nerve-wracking for the team as SHS saw its lead balloon to 23-13 after Alisha McDonnell ripped 3 service points but the lead proved not to be a lock as the Rams stormed back to to get within 3 at 23-20 after passing and hitting woes prevented Summit from closing out the match. The team settled down though and used Grace Galuppo's serving to close out the match at 25-22.
Another 20 kill effort by the Hilltoppers as Casey Nardino pounded out 9 kills to lead the way as Wardlaw had no answers for the senior captain. Summit served at 90% and hit for 11 aces led again by the 3 from Nardino. Grace Galuppo and Jocelyn Mendez got 4 digs apiece to lead the way defensively.
The team passed at an incredible 2.00 rating led by Mendez and Val Guzman who combined for receiving 26 of the 40 serves sent by the Rams and did so for a combined 2.27 pass rating.
JV CLOSES OUT 2016 WITH STYLE
JV finished out its 2016 campaign with a 25-8, 25-15 dominant win over the Rams of Wardlaw-Hartridge. Summit led 16-7 after 6 rotations after Camille Della Piazza and Cheryl Liu ripped 8 service points and the team was not really challenged from that point on. Olivia Skrobala finished it with 8 service points (6 aces) to close out game 1.
Game 2 was more of the same as the Hilltoppers jumped out to a 7-0 lead behind Micaela Nardino's serving (4 aces). Summit was never threatened again as the team was able to maintain that cushion and expand on it. By rotation 6, the Hilltoppers were up 19-12 and the lead was up to 22-15 by rotation 7. Summit got the 3 points it needed in rotation 8 and the record setting 17th win was a done deal.
The 2016 season was banner year for the group considering they had many first year players in the starting lineup. The 2016 squad will leave holding the Wins Record and the Best Winning % Record.
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