Red Knights earn hard-fought sweep in district semi
Andrew Grimm BIG HIT — Toronto's Jayna Reeves goes up for the match-clinching kill against Strasburg Monday evening in the East District semifinals.
Andrew Grimm WINNING MOMENT — Toronto's Addison Dobbs and Jayna Reeves celebrate after the final point.
Andrew Grimm HITTING — Toronto's Addison Dobbs attempts a kill against Strasburg.
Andrew Grimm AGAINST A BLOCK — Toronto's Josey Dickinson attempts to get a hit past Strasburg blockers at the net.
Andrew Grimm BLOCKING — Toronto's Josey Dickinson and Kylie Mitchell go up to block a Strasburg attempt.
Andrew Grimm BIG HIT — Toronto's Jayna Reeves goes up for the match-clinching kill against Strasburg Monday evening in the East District semifinals.
Andrew Grimm WINNING MOMENT — Toronto's Addison Dobbs and Jayna Reeves celebrate after the final point.
Andrew Grimm HITTING — Toronto's Addison Dobbs attempts a kill against Strasburg.
Andrew Grimm AGAINST A BLOCK — Toronto's Josey Dickinson attempts to get a hit past Strasburg blockers at the net.
Andrew Grimm BLOCKING — Toronto's Josey Dickinson and Kylie Mitchell go up to block a Strasburg attempt.
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TORONTO -- The Toronto volleyball team is on a mission to add some trophies to the case. Already with the OVAC trophy added, the Red Knights took a big step in adding another.
Toronto, the top seed in the Division VII, East District tournament, earned a chance to play for a district title by earning a hard-fought sweep of Strasburg Monday evening inside the Kunzler Gymnasium in the district semifinals.
"Our kids want this," Toronto head coach Shannon Bahen said. "They want to make history, they want to win a district title. Our heart and desire is there. They're on a mission."
The Knights (22-2) had to work for every point in opening a two-set lead, taking a close first set 25-23, then outlasting the third-seeded Tigers (15-9) 29-27 in a back-and-forth battle of a set in the second.
Once they got that 2-0 lead, however, it was clear in the third the Knights were out to put it away, and they did just that, finishing the sweep with a 25-15 set win.
"They're a good team, very well-coached," Bahen said of the Tigers. "They come from a very tough league in the IVC (Inter-Valley Conference). They made us earn it. Coming in I expected a five-set dogfight, but we executed well-enough when we had to and were able to get the sweep.
"We wanted to put it away after we got up 2-0 and came out strong in the third set. It was a great environment in here, our kids fed off the energy and wanted the sweep and they took care of business to get it."
With the district final and beyond set to played at neutral sites, the win was a special one as it gave the Red Knights seniors a memorable victory in what was their final match inside their home gym.
"It was great for the seniors to win their last match here," Bahen said. "I think it was fitting that one of the seniors, Jayna Reeves, had the last point of the game. I told her right before the point to put it down one last time in her home gym.
"They don't want to lose on their home court, they wanted to defend their home court and I'm happy for them that they were able to get the win here."
In the victory, Reeves had 20 kills and a block, including the match-sealing kill, Addison Dobbs recorded 19 kills and three aces, Daneille Sutherin tallied 39 assists and two aces, Kylie Mitchell had two blocks, two kills and an ace, Haley Bodnar had 15 digs and two aces, Jaylee Brown recorded 10 digs and two aces and Emma Parello recorded two blocks.
With the victory, the Red Knights advance to take on No. 2 seed Tuscarawas Central Catholic (15-9) on Wednesday night in the East District championship match. The winner earns a trip to regionals. The district final is set to be played at Carrollton High School with a 6 p.m. start.