Weston and Seneca meet in a clash of conference volleyball titans
Nathan Ihde/Times Press
The scene was about as wild as it gets in the Ridge and Valley. The Seneca Pep Band was in full swing jamming out tunes like Smoke on the Water and Barbara Ann inciting screaming and dancing from both student factions as small children laughed and cried spilling popcorn and Mountain Dew. The stage was set for two undefeated teams to square off, Seneca working on a third straight conference title and a gritty group of Weston athletes set on bringing the Eagles back to the prominence of their 2004-2005 championship seasons.
The fight began in game one punch for punch, the ball back and forth side out after side out as the score went 2-2, 3-3, 4-4 and 5-5. It was the net play of Seneca making the difference as the Indians began to pull away. Junior Jessica Alanis and freshman Kalli Boland dominated up high with several blocks and spikes. Weston would regroup as Kristin Jasper took the serve for seven straight points. Her teammates fought hard delivering gutty digs including a tough one from Lyndsey Solchenberger. Hilary Frey peaked the excitement as she connected on a big swing to tie the score at 19-19, but it was as close as the Eagles would come in game one.
After a questionable encroachment call in favor of Seneca, the Indians and their strong front court ran away with a 25-21 win.
Game two proved to be another see-saw battle, the small gym filled with nail-biting parents and the competing cheers of wild-eyed students. Heidi Solchenberger slammed down a spike to bring the score to 18-17 and then the teams began one of several fantastic rallies. It was Lyndsay Escher with a dig, Lyndsey Solcheberger with another followed by an out by Seneca to put Weston up 19-17. It was back to the tightrope for a spell before Weston pulled away for good with Kayla Schmitt serving the final point of the game in an exciting 25-21 win.
Weston jumped out in game three to an 11-4 lead only to watch Hilary Bark serve the Indians back into a tie. Alanis again came up big for Seneca as Frey and the Solchenberger sisters worked hard in the net on several exciting rallies. It was Seneca that would pull away as the roar of the home crowd grew wild inside the small gym and the Indians took game three with a score of 25-22.
Alanis and Boland again proved strong in the net for Seneca swinging hard at the onset of game four with kills in mind while junior Cortney Trautsch played heartbreaker flying around the court saving tough Weston hits. The Indians jumped to a 17-8 lead much to the chagrin of the loyal Eagle fan base as the Seneca faithful hit their feet raucously cheering what looked to be a rout.
In never-say-die fashion Weston clawed their way back to a 17-17 tie bringing us all back into another gut wrenching nail-biter marked by awesome rallies, hits and blocks lost in the excitement. It was high adventure in the conference Tuesday night as the score teetered back and forth, but in the end it was Seneca dancing away with a 28-26 victory and the match leaving them undefeated and Weston with a single and painful loss.
Hillary Frey led the Eagles with 12 total points followed by Lindsay Escher with 11 and Lindsey Solchenberger with 10. The Eagles hope to avenge the loss in a probable showdown with the Indians in the regional tournament.