Monroeville rallies past St. Paul for title share

NORWALK — Alexa Adams had been around long enough. The Monroeville senior middle hitter knew Thursday's huge Firelands Conference match wasn't going to be easy. But the Eagles were up against it like they haven't been this season in FC play, as host St. Paul took a 2-1 lead after three sets. But from there, the Division VII No. 5-ranked team looked like it was leading the match. The Eagles played from in front in both the fourth and fifth sets to leave Harvey Keller Gymnasium with the win — and a share of the FC championship. It was a start contrast from a Monroeville home sweep back on Sept. 9. The Eagles won Thursday with scores of 24-26, 25-18, 23-25, 25-17, and 15-11 to improve to 17-2 overall and 11-0 in the FC. "We knew it was going to be tough over here with their home crowd," said Adams, who finished with 20 kills as a dominant middle force for the Eagles. "We couldn't let it get in our heads. We just had to play through it. "Nothing changed with our mindset … it was just a matter of keeping our composure and getting the bad points out of our heads, and we were able to do that." Adams and her senior teammates are the first in program history to win four straight FC titles. "I love it," she said. "It's just a really great feeling to have." The fifth set saw the Eagles quickly grab a 5-1 lead they never let go of as Madi Reiber had two kills and Haylee Morman added one around two St. Paul errors. The lead grew to 12-6 and it appeared all but over, but the Lady Flyers (12-8, 10-2) did not go quietly. Kegney Stoll put down a cross-court kill, then a long rally from both sides ended when Brooklyn Cassidy got a kill off a Monroeville block to make it 12-8. Down 13-8, a Reiber hit went out of bounds, and some miscommunication on the Eagles' side of the net saw the ball drop for a point. Stoll then got a kill off a Monroeville block attempt, and it was quickly just a 13-11 lead. However, the Flyers served the ensuing ball into the net — on a night both teams had many service errors — to give the Eagles a 14-11 lead. With Reiber serving, the Flyers then hit a ball into the net to clinch the set and the win. "We've been taking a lot about playing with confidence and composure, and it takes three sets to win," Monroeville head coach Kendra Snook said. Her team also won in four on Tuesday at South Central. "It's been tougher for us this second time around in the conference," Snook said. "We didn't lose a set in the first round, but every match out, we will get everyone's best, and that has happened, and it did again tonight. "If we can hold ourselves together, we will be able to compete against anyone." Neither team gained any separation in the firs set, but when it was tied late, the Flyers came through. The Eagles were unable to clear the net on a serve to fall down 25-24, then a huge kill from Ella Kalizewski gave St. Paul the 26-24 win and a 1-0 lead. Monroeville controlled throughout the second set, leading as much as 18-7 before St. Paul chipped away and got within six late on a kill from Stoll. However, it was 24-18, and the Eagles put the match away on a kill from Riley Platte. The third set played out similar to the first, with a ton of back and forth action. It was tied at 20 when Ella Kalizewski clipped the net and got the point to fall. Stoll and Cassidy then delivered big kills around one from Reiber for a 23-21 lead. A service error on the Flyers followed, but Kalizewski delivered a cross-court kill for a 24-22 lead. The Eagles staved off elimination on a block by Ady Adams, but Kalizewski again finished the set off with a kill for 25-23 and a 2-1 match lead. But the Eagles rallied around the Adams' twins. They both had five kills by the time the Eagles opened up a 12-7 lead. Alexa Adams and Reiber then feasted at the net, and a long St. Paul serve added to the 18-9 Monroeville lead. It was 23-12 when St. Paul again found some late momentum, as they scored five of the next six points to pull within 24-17. However, the Flyers served it into the net to give the Eagles the set. "It's a catch, because you have to serve aggressive against good teams that pass well, and Monroeville is both those things," St. Paul head coach Angie Kalizewski said. "If you don't take the risk and serve tough, you're going to be sitting in defense all night. "It's a fine line, and we missed too many. But all in all, we pushed them to be out of system more, which is what you have to do. It's kind of part of the risk of trying to push a good team." For Monroeville, Ady Adams and Reiber each added 12 kills, while Reiber also had 12 digs. Addison Lyons had 26 assists and Kaci Poths had 20 assists with 16 digs and threee aces. Addison Homan finished with 37 digs and Maddy Miller had 19. "This was a fun match and is what high school sports are all about," Snook said. "But for them to hold it together late, that was our first fifth set win this year. We know there are no easy roads to win (the FC) on our own, but we at least got another number on the banner. This senior group is the first to win four, so that's pretty special to do." For St. Paul, Ella Kalizewski finished with 15 kills and four blocks. Stoll and Cassidy each had 11 kills and Shealyn Deeter had seven. Annie Friend set 36 assists and had 16 digs. Lily Cuturic also had 35 digs, while Kalizewski had 19 digs and Cassidy had 16. Friend was also 20-for-21 serving with an ace. "We played really well, but when you're against good teams, you can't let them get ahead of you like that so quick," Angie Kalizewski said of the last two sets. "Overall we showed a lot of improvement, but Monroeville, as we expected, responded, and I think we got a little panicked. "But overall we learned a lot tonight and showed good fight. They are working hard and running through all the hustle plays, so we're excited about this last stretch run of the season."