Sep 3, 2008 By Mike Ciarochi 3 min read

PERRYOPOLIS – It seemed that every time Geibel Catholic volleyball coach Rick Watkins looked up at the scoreboard, his Gators were trailing Frazier in a key opening Section 5-A match Tuesday at Frazier. But every time the last point was scored, it was his team celebrating.

Geibel Catholic’s 3-0 sweep of Frazier set the early tone for the season, even though there is plenty of volleyball yet to be played.

“I just told the girls that it takes a lot of character to give up points early in a game, like we were doing; to get a big deficit like that and come back,” Watkins said. “I told them it takes a lot of character. Now don’t ever do that again.”

Even though it was the season opener for both teams, it was a big match for the Gators, since it was at Frazier, a team that, along with Jefferson-Morgan are expected to battle the Gators for the section title.

“It you want to call it a driver’s seat, I’ll take it,” Watkins said. “But they still have to come to our place and we have Jefferson-Morgan next week. I’m not sure about the other teams in our section, but I know Frazier and Jefferson-Morgan are good.”

As happy as Watkins was, that’s how miserable Frazier coach Mandy Hartman was. From her perspective, all three games were blown leads.

“The bottom line is my players were lazy,” Hartman said. “They thought they would win simply by taking the court. Actually, I’m glad it happened because now they’ll either learn from it or we’ll get stuck and struggle to make the playoffs.

“Geibel controlled the tempo of the game the whole time. When we did get a lead, I think we relaxed. It’s a hard lesson these girls learned.”

Frazier ran off four straight points to take a 16-11 lead in the first game, but the Gators ran off nine straight for a 25-19 win. Frazier led the second game until Geibel pulled ahead 15-14 and the Lady Commodores pulled ahead again, 21-20, but the Gators prevailed, 25-23. Geibel Catholic’s first lead of the third game didn’t come until 18-17. Frazier battled back to forge ties at 24 and 25 before the Gators wrapped it up with two points in a row, 27-25.

The winning points in the second and third games were out down by Carly Ciarochi, who drew praise from Watkins after finishing with 12 kills and 11 blocks.

“She was very tough,” Watkins said. “Carly has developed into a good go-to girl for us. She and Marney Hillen at the net were key for us tonight. Marney makes plays. Our other girls blocking at the net and our back row people kept us in those games. Our passing was very good tonight.”

Hillen finished with four kills and 10 service points, while Julianne Speeney had 14 service points (three aces) and 14 assists. Gena Keebler had six kills for Frazier, while Laurissa Ellis and Erin Kuhn added five each. Rebecca Lonce had nine service points.

The Gators host Mapletown Thursday, while Frazier is off until it hosts Mapletown next Tuesday.