KANE, Pa. (EYT/D9) – It wasn’t that long ago when the Karns City volleyball team was playing without its head coach and with a roster depleted by injuries and COVID-19 quarantine.
It wasn’t that long ago when the Gremlins were simply trying to survive a trying season.
Now they are in the District 9 Class 2A semifinal.
Behind their usual balanced attack and gritty serve-receive game, the Gremlins swept Kane 25-23, 27-25, 25-18 Wednesday night to advance to a date with No. 1 seed Keystone next week.
“This team as a whole was just so excited that we made it to the playoffs after the rough season we’ve had,” said Karns City senior Ashley Fox. “Everyone is showing a lot of fire and passion to win these next games.”
Fox has had a difficult season, too. A badly sprained ankle coupled with a shoulder injury forced the potent hitter to the back row as a libero for a time just so she could stay on the court. Now (mostly) healthy again, Fox has been a big part of Karns City’s recent run of success.
Fox had seven kills, 10 digs and two aces against Kane.
Rosie Carden had a big night, too, for the Gremlins with eight kills, 16 assists and 16 digs. Ava Fox, Ashley’s younger sister, chipped in a team-leading nine kills to go with 16 digs, and Emma Johns was again her versatile self with five kills, 15 assists and six digs.
For a stretch this season, assistant coach Nicole Fox filled in for head coach Sharon Schmoll, who was out because of COVID-19 protocols.
Karns City has gotten hot at the right time. The Gremlins have won four of their last five, including a victory over Redbank Valley, which will play Brookville in the other 2A semifinal match Nov. 2.
There is a definite buzz around the Gremlins heading into their match at Keystone, which will be played at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday with a trip to the Nov. 4 final on the line.
“It’s the best feeling ever to have so much support from everyone,” Ashley Fox said.
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