4th Annual Olympic Conference Senior Game

High School Volleyball:
4th Annual Olympic Conference Senior Game
Monday, November 19, 2001

By John Daglian
SJSports Staff Writer

It was a night of stars at Eastern Regional High School Monday as they hosted the fourth Olympic Senior game. The game was played before nearly 200 fans. This game gives the seniors a chance to show case their individual skills and more importantly have a lot of fun in the process. The game had representatives from all of the Olympic Conference teams. A total of 45 seniors attended and participated in the match.

The teams are divided according to the final standings in the two divisions of the conference. The division attempts to keep the match close and the teams even. However, I suspect every one was surprised at just how close the match turned out.

A scheduled five game event would need all five games to determine a winner. In the end the Blue team was victorious 14 - 16, 15 - 8, 15 - 11, 14 - 16 and 15 - 3.

The coaches managed to get everyone into the affair and keep their playing time fairly even. Both teams used multiple substitutions through out the five games as well as splitting their teams into two separate squads.

A senior game can turn out to be fairly sloppy since the players are unfamiliar with each other's styles and team's systems. However, for the most part, last night proved to be an exception as both teams provided us with some excellent offense and defense.

The first game was controlled by the Blue team until Caitlin Cielo and Natalie DiFeliciantonio took charge at the net and at the service line. They led a 6 point rally and secured a 16 - 14 victory for the tan team.

The second game featured two new teams and this time it was Blue's turn for the comeback. The Tan squad jumped out to a quick 7 -1 lead behind Shannon Husband and Amanda White. However, the Blue squad fought back to take the game 15 - 8.

Game three focused on net play as Caitlin, Natalie and Amanda blanketed the net for the tan team while Jhane Zarghami and Cathy Girman returned the favor for the Blue team. Neither team was able to get an advantage until a big block by Cathy Girman gave the Blue team a 12 - 11 lead which they would not relinquish. Blue won the game 15 - 11.

Game four was similar to the game three with new players, however, this time the play focused on the backcourt. Township's Kate Hahn was everywhere in distributing sets to her teammates, as was West's Dana Kratchman. The game would go back and forth until Williamston's Amanda White came up with two big blocks to seal the 16 - 14 Tan victory.

The fifth game featured the Cathy Girman and Jhane Zarghami show as the two Cherry Hill East seniors dominated the net both offensively and defensively. The Blue team never was threatened en-route to an easy 15 - 3 victory and a 3 games to 2 match win. However, more importantly all participants had a good time and got plenty of playing time.

Photos by Art Redd