Luck of the draw lands Geibel in toughest pool
YORK, Pa. – Irony has a sick sense of humor. Geibel Catholic came into the Class A girls volleyball championships having to play like there’s no tomorrow.
But because the Lady Gators didn’t, there is no tomorrow.
Geibel Catholic’s WPIAL championship-winning season came to an abrupt end Friday with quarterfinal losses to Marian Catholic and Cochranton, the last two teams to win PIAA gold. Those losses made moot their third pool-play match against defending state runner-up Northern Cambria.
Even an upset over Northern Cambria wouldn’t be enough to qualify the Lady Gators for Saturday’s semifinals. Marian Catholic and Cochranton played for the right to join the Lady Colts in Saturday’s Final Four from Pool B.
Speaking of Pool B, there was a consensus among coaches that the best four teams in the state were placed in Pool B. Cochranton was ranked 13th best in the state in the latest Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association top 20 poll, which ranks classifications in one poll. Northern Cambria was 14th and Marian Catholic was 16th.
None of the other five teams in the field of eight were ranked. So at least the Lady Gators got a true assessment of their game against the best in the state.
“Without a doubt, it was the toughest pool,” Geibel Catholic coach Rick Watkins said. “Sure, it’s tough. You’ve got to bring you’re ‘A’ game every match. We played some really tough matches, but they happened to be against some very good teams.”
Don’t misconstrue Watkins’ comments as sour grapes. Consider that before a game was played, it was known that one of the ranked teams would not make it through Friday. That team turned out to be defending state champion Cochranton.
Watkins always has preached that to be the best you have to beat the best. His Lady Gators gave it a good shot, but it wasn’t enough.
No, these young ladies have nothing to hang their heads about. They became the first Geibel Catholic girls volleyball team to bring home WPIAL gold and the first since 1982 to qualify for this tournament.
And Watkins vows his team will be back, sooner rather than later. He’ll miss the contributions of the seven seniors who played their last match last evening, but the cupboard is far from bare.
Not with the likes of All-State players like setter Chelsey Kreinbrook and outside hitter Natalie Hozak coming back or promising sophomore Samantha Hawk and junior Caroline Renne.
Watkins said prior to arriving here that he intends this to be a rite of November for his team. Now, the groundwork has been laid and the seniors who are leaving have left their mark on the program.
“When you get here, it’s hard to be disappointed,” Watkins said. “I still feel we’re one of the best four teams in the state. I’m still upbeat about this team.”
As well he should be.
Mike Ciarochi may be reached at mciarochi@heraldstandard.com