Oct 21, 2005 By Mike Ciarochi 3 min read

PERRYOPOLIS – It goes in the books as a sweep, but Geibel Catholic’s 3-0 win over Frazier in the Section 6-A girls volleyball finale for both teams was more competitive than the score would indicate. “There was one little run that separated us in each of the three games,” Geibel Catholic coach Rick Watkins said. “If we don’t get those runs, it would have been a different match.”

What it turned out to be was a good tune-up for these WPIAL playoff-bound teams. Geibel Catholic (12-2 overall and 12-0 section champions) heads into the post-season as the third-seeded team in Class A, while Frazier (10-4, 9-3) is seeded sixth. Pairings are expected to be announced today, with first-round action expected to begin Thursday night.

“When they need a point or to run a few, they can,” Frazier coach Mandy Hartman said of the Lady Gators. “That’s why we had trouble with them this year. They always have two outside hitters out there in the front row, with Natalie Hozak and Caitlin Solan, and that makes it difficult for us.”

The Lady Gators trailed only three times in the first two games and Frazier forged a tie on three other occasions, but Geibel Catholic didn’t take control of the first game until it turned a 14-10 lead into a 19-12 edge en route to a 25-15 win.

The second game saw the teams battle to 11-11 before a 7-2 Lady Gator run made it 18-13 ont he way to the first of twin 25-20 scores in the last two games. Frazier led in the early going of the third game, which saw its last tie at 12-12. Five consecutive Geibel Catholic points made it 17-12 and the closest Frazier could get was 22-19.

Last year, it was Frazier entering the playoffs as section champs and Geibel Catholic qualifying as a second-place team. Or, as Watkins put it, “This is one in a row for us.”

“But I couldn’t be happier with the way the season has played out,” Hartman said. “We’ve gotten better as the season has progressed. Our second season starts next week and we’ll be ready for whomever we meet.”

Watkins said he was more confident a few weeks ago than he is today, thanks to a close exhibition loss to top-seeded North Catholic.

“That match showed us we have to play every time we step on the court, that we won’t win just by showing up,” Watkins said. “Now I can say that the girls were a little bit overconfident, and so was I. Now, we’re prepared.”

Solan and Hozak led Geibel Catholic with eight kills each, while Chelsey Kreinbrook had 22 assists and Abbie Renze 24 digs.

Katelyn Schuessler had 11 service points. Frazier got 10 kills from Kate Oldham and 16 assists from Rachel Hudik.