WARREN, Pa. (EYT/D9) — Excuse Tori Newton for her sense of disbelief.
Even after the final serve hit the floor, sending the Elk County Catholic volleyball team into a fevered celebration following a 25-16, 26-24, 28-26 victory over defending state volleyball champion Maplewood in the PIAA Class A semifinals on Tuesday night at Warren High School, Newton had trouble grasping the reality of it all.
“This is so exciting,” Newton said. “It honestly just feels so unreal right now for all of us.”
Perhaps that feeling has come from three years of postseason disappointment for Newton and her senior teammates.
Three years of undefeated volleyball in the regular season for the Crusaders. Three years of heartbreaking losses in the playoffs, including a 3-0 sweep at the hands of Maplewood last year.
“I don’t even know how to explain it,” said ECC coach Tricia Bauer. “It’s an amazing feeling because I think when you have to work really, really, really hard to get something, I think it means a lot more.”
This Crusader team has shown it is different — and they showed it again against Maplewood in the semifinals.
The first set was a big one. After a shaky start, Elk County Catholic took control for a 1-0 lead.
Grabbing that first game was paramount in a clash of two of the best teams in the state.
“Starting off strong really helps the whole team have more confidence,” said senior Lucy Klawuhn. “We knew they were a strong team, but we were able to shut them down, and it felt great.”
The second and third sets were much more difficult for Elk County, but the Crusaders found a way to pull them out to move on to face West Branch at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday for the Class A state title at Cumberland Valley High School.
Newton continued her torrid play at the net with 19 kills. She also had 19 digs.
“This is a huge goal we all have been working towards since we were first picked up a volleyball,” Newton said. “So it means so much to us. We are so excited to keep practicing and play in the state championship.”
Reagan Bauer added 13 kills and 19 digs, Kiri Emmert had 33 assists and Klawuhn 16 digs.
“It wasn’t easy getting to this spot,” Coach Bauer said. “We played some really good teams and we played some really good volleyball. And that’s what we talked about tonight on the way home. There wasn’t one point that was easy. We had to fight for everything, and I think it means a lot more when you have to fight for it.”
That was evident after the match as ECC players let their excitement and relief show.
“We all were so happy and excited,” Newton said. “I think a few of us started to tear up because we were so excited and did not want our season to end just yet. It was a great feeling.”
The season will end one way or another on Saturday against a foe that isn’t all that unfamiliar to the Crusaders.
Elk County Catholic knows West Branch very well.
Players from the two teams played against each other during the offseason. Some are teammates on club and travel teams.
“Crazy story. We scrimmaged each other all summer,” Tricia Bauer said. “There’s a group of us that got together, four or five teams, and we scrimmaged all summer, every Monday. My daughter, Reagan, played for (West Branch coach Terry Trude’s) travel team. Terry and I have been texting each other all through the process.”
Now they will face off again against each other with a state title on the line, ECC taking out Maplewood to get there.
It’s the first trip to the final for the Crusaders since 1986.
“It means a lot to be able to take out the defending state champs,” Klawuhn said. “We have all worked so hard, and getting to the state final is a huge goal for all of us since the beginning of our careers. It is so cool it is coming true, and we hope we can make the best of it.”
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