Frazier falls to Elderton
CALIFORNIA – Frazier has had its ups and downs this volleyball season, which isn’t surprising considering coach Mandy Hartman sports a roster with only two seniors and no juniors. The Lady Commodores displayed some of their vast potential, however, Thursday night.
Frazier fell to top-seeded Elderton, 3-0, but gave the undefeated Lady Bobcats a tough battle in their WPIAL Class A quarterfinal playoff match at California High School.
“I have to give my girls all the credit in the world,” Hartman said. “Elderton is the No. 1 seed. They’re expected to win it all, and our girls came in here and played their best.”
Hartman’s crew used a 6-1 run to take a 6-3 lead in the first game before falling 15-8.
Elderton appeared to be on its way after winning the second game, 15-5, and then jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the third game.
The gritty Lady Commodores (16-5) still had some fight left in them, though, and reeled off the next six points to go up 6-5.
The Lady Bobcats (13-0) regrouped and pulled away for a 15-7 victory to put the match away.
“I was a little apprehensive at the beginning of the first game,” Elderton coach Dan Spencer said. “Frazier plays against some good teams, like Jefferson-Morgan and Geibel. They came to play.”
The Lady Bobcats will next take on Geibel Catholic in the semifinals at LaRoche College on Saturday night.
Frazier was at its best when Jessica Stahl was serving. The senior racked up 11 service points.
It was Stahl who was serving when the Lady Commodores rang up four consecutive points to take a 4-2 lead in the opening game, and it was on Stahl’s serve that Frazier stopped an eight-point Elderton run later that same game. She also was serving when Frazier began its comeback in the third game with a pair of points. Sophomore Katie Zebley followed with four straight service points soon after to give Frazier its one-point lead.
Hartman only wished Stahl’s teammates would’ve gotten her a little more involved in the offense.
“Jessica is a fabulous server and defensive player,” Hartman said. “But tonight we had a little bit of trouble getting her the ball.”
Sophomores Holly Smith and Mandy Byron also played extremely well for Frazier. Smith slammed home 14 kills and Byron contributed 21 assists.
Hartman was impressed with the Lady Bobcats, especially powerful hitter Teila Nolder and Krista Nordby. Nolder had three impressive kills in Elderton’s eight-point run in the first game.
“They’ve got some talented players and are an excellent team,” said Hartman, who has guided the Lady Commodores into the playoffs in each of her five seasons.
“This season has been full of disappointment for us. Our youth has shown at times,”
Hartman said. “But I think tonight they showed they’re ready to take that next step.”
Hartman commended senior co-captains Stahl and Vanessa Myers, both four-year lettermen, for helping guide her young squad.
“I have to give credit to my two seniors. They were true leaders all season long,” Hartman said.
Although disappointed in the loss, Stahl felt her career ended on an up note and that the program has steadily progressed.
“I think next year they’ll be ready to take it up another level, and maybe Vanessa and I will have had something to do with that,” Stahl said.
“I wish all the girls well in the future. We’re real excited to have been part of this.”
“It’s heartbreaking to see it end,” Myers said. “But I’ll never forget playing volleyball at Frazier with coach Hartman.”