Council Rock North:
Team unity drives Rock to D-One title bout
By Steve Sherman
Sports Editor
Before this season, Pennsbury was the perennial powerhouse in the Suburban One League (SOL) National Conference.
Council Rock North went out and beat the Falcons 3-1 the first time the sides faced off at the Rock. In a match that took place in early September, it was the very first league match of the season for both teams so maybe the sides were still getting their feet wet in varsity play.
Pennsbury exacted revenge when it outpaced the Indians 3-2 in a late-season matchup but lost to sister school CR South in the last week of the season. That opened the door for the Rock’s way to the league title. The Indians walked right through that opening with a 3-0 triumph over the Hawks that assured North the conference crown.
What’s more, the Indians needed the win in order to garner a more favorable seeding in district play.
Senior Sarah Kiely led the way for North with 9 kills, 8 digs and 4 blocks. Rachel Friedman pitched in with 9 kills and 23 digs. Jackie Davies contributed 28 assists, 2 kills and 14 digs. And Bailey Dowd added 8 kills to the Rock's cause.
Because of that win, North earned a No. 6 seeding and the Falcons were awarded No. 8, placing them in the same bracket as top-seeded Bishop Shanahan.
While North won all of its first three playoff pairings after receiving a first round bye, the Falcons fell 3-1 in a district quarterfinal match with Shanahan.
“It was intense because we knew what was on the line,” stated Kiely, of the win over the Hawks. “If we didn’t win that game, then our rankings for postseason wouldn’t have been as good as it was.”
And of course besting runnerup Pennsbury made the league championship that much sweeter.
“It was awesome to win over Pennsbury,” stated Kiely. “They win [the league] every year and last year they beat us for the league title so...”
After winning the league, North advanced to the D-One quarters with a 3-2 win over Strath Haven Oct. 29, outpacing the Panthers, 25-16, 25-18, and 15-6 in games one, three and five. Haven was a winner in games two and four, outpacing the Rock by identical 25-19 scores.
Caroline Anderson led the way to the playoff win with seven kills and 14 digs. Jackie Davies pitched in with 43 assists, and five kills. Bailey Dowd contributed 13 kills, and five blocks. Rachel Friedman added nine kills and 22 digs. Kiely came through with 16 kills, 15 blocks, four aces and 10 digs.
“Strath Haven put up a fight. The match was intense because their middle was hitting really well and we were blocking really well,” stated Kiely. “But some passes were great and some not so great; some sets were great and others weren’t.
“We were able to overcome the drought in that final game and we just pulled away with the win.”
In districts, the Indians had the advantage of having seen each of its first three opponents before the tournament tipped off. Earlier in the season, North faced off against Haven and Penncrest in midseason tourneys in addition to scrimmaging against St. Basil’s in preseason.
“Our seeding provided us with the perfect rout to the district finals,” stated Kiely. “I wish we could have placed higher but it really worked out for us in the end.”
In the D-One semis, Kiely came through with 13 kills and 5 blocks helping the Indians to a 3-1 win over 10th-seeded St. Basil’s. The win over Basil’s, who upset second-seeded Upper Merion, guaranteed North a berth in the upcoming PIAA tournament.
Though she deserved a lot of the credit too, Kiely was quick to commend her teammates for the fine job they’ve done getting the Rock into states.
She had this to say of Friedman, who contributed 17 kills to the Rock’s state qualifying win over Basil’s.
“We need her to win. She has the ability to see over the front row,” explained Kiely. “When she’s passing back row, she notices things with the other team’s defense so she tells me where to hit.”
A strong hitter, Bailey Dowd is the tallest on the team so she is counted on to block. But Dowd brings so much more to the Indians, said Kiely.
“She does a great job of getting everyone’s energy up and getting everyone pumped up for the games,” stated Kiely. “She has quite the hit when she’s on; she slams the ball on the floor.”
Libero Amanda Carmen is one of the best passers on the team and Davies is perhaps the best setter that North has ever had.
“She gives me different sets and she confuses the heck out of the opposing defense,” explained Kiely. “The blockers don’t know where she’s going and that’s a benefit.”
“I can go on about everyone. Those are just some people that bring different personalities to the team and help us achieve our goals
In their semifinal win over St. Basil’s, the Rock forged ahead with a 25-20 win in game one only to see Basil’s rebound with a 25-19 win of their own.
Tied at 16-all, a late run keyed by a Kiely block and two kills by Davies gave the Indians the win and all the momentum they needed to advance.
“That was the game-changer. We knew we had to win,” stated Davies. “This was the game that tells all. Whoever wins it, they were going to win the match.”
It was team unity helped the Rock pull through in the semis, said Davies.
“We don’t have just one or two stars, we’re a team,” said Davies. “We have amazing right sides, amazing outsides. Our defense will not let a ball drop without a body hitting the floor after it.”
There are seven seniors, three of whom--Kiely, Davies and Carmen--are scattered into the starting lineup. Lauren Malakoff plays back row as does Danielle Stewart, who comes in sometimes for Dowd. But it’s not so much their age but their camaraderie that makes North a cohesive unit that is successful on the hardwood, says Kiely.
“We’re friends--we all want to hang out together. That and the combination with the will to win just makes our team different because our chemistry works so well together,” sge said.
“The team chemistry just flows on this team,” said Davies. “All of us have so much drive and want so much to be the best we can.”
Tomorrow afternoon at Wissahickon, we’ll find out if they’re the best in District One.
Stay tuned.
Sports Editor
Before this season, Pennsbury was the perennial powerhouse in the Suburban One League (SOL) National Conference.
Council Rock North went out and beat the Falcons 3-1 the first time the sides faced off at the Rock. In a match that took place in early September, it was the very first league match of the season for both teams so maybe the sides were still getting their feet wet in varsity play.
Pennsbury exacted revenge when it outpaced the Indians 3-2 in a late-season matchup but lost to sister school CR South in the last week of the season. That opened the door for the Rock’s way to the league title. The Indians walked right through that opening with a 3-0 triumph over the Hawks that assured North the conference crown.
What’s more, the Indians needed the win in order to garner a more favorable seeding in district play.
Senior Sarah Kiely led the way for North with 9 kills, 8 digs and 4 blocks. Rachel Friedman pitched in with 9 kills and 23 digs. Jackie Davies contributed 28 assists, 2 kills and 14 digs. And Bailey Dowd added 8 kills to the Rock's cause.
Because of that win, North earned a No. 6 seeding and the Falcons were awarded No. 8, placing them in the same bracket as top-seeded Bishop Shanahan.
While North won all of its first three playoff pairings after receiving a first round bye, the Falcons fell 3-1 in a district quarterfinal match with Shanahan.
“It was intense because we knew what was on the line,” stated Kiely, of the win over the Hawks. “If we didn’t win that game, then our rankings for postseason wouldn’t have been as good as it was.”
And of course besting runnerup Pennsbury made the league championship that much sweeter.
“It was awesome to win over Pennsbury,” stated Kiely. “They win [the league] every year and last year they beat us for the league title so...”
After winning the league, North advanced to the D-One quarters with a 3-2 win over Strath Haven Oct. 29, outpacing the Panthers, 25-16, 25-18, and 15-6 in games one, three and five. Haven was a winner in games two and four, outpacing the Rock by identical 25-19 scores.
Caroline Anderson led the way to the playoff win with seven kills and 14 digs. Jackie Davies pitched in with 43 assists, and five kills. Bailey Dowd contributed 13 kills, and five blocks. Rachel Friedman added nine kills and 22 digs. Kiely came through with 16 kills, 15 blocks, four aces and 10 digs.
“Strath Haven put up a fight. The match was intense because their middle was hitting really well and we were blocking really well,” stated Kiely. “But some passes were great and some not so great; some sets were great and others weren’t.
“We were able to overcome the drought in that final game and we just pulled away with the win.”
In districts, the Indians had the advantage of having seen each of its first three opponents before the tournament tipped off. Earlier in the season, North faced off against Haven and Penncrest in midseason tourneys in addition to scrimmaging against St. Basil’s in preseason.
“Our seeding provided us with the perfect rout to the district finals,” stated Kiely. “I wish we could have placed higher but it really worked out for us in the end.”
In the D-One semis, Kiely came through with 13 kills and 5 blocks helping the Indians to a 3-1 win over 10th-seeded St. Basil’s. The win over Basil’s, who upset second-seeded Upper Merion, guaranteed North a berth in the upcoming PIAA tournament.
Though she deserved a lot of the credit too, Kiely was quick to commend her teammates for the fine job they’ve done getting the Rock into states.
She had this to say of Friedman, who contributed 17 kills to the Rock’s state qualifying win over Basil’s.
“We need her to win. She has the ability to see over the front row,” explained Kiely. “When she’s passing back row, she notices things with the other team’s defense so she tells me where to hit.”
A strong hitter, Bailey Dowd is the tallest on the team so she is counted on to block. But Dowd brings so much more to the Indians, said Kiely.
“She does a great job of getting everyone’s energy up and getting everyone pumped up for the games,” stated Kiely. “She has quite the hit when she’s on; she slams the ball on the floor.”
Libero Amanda Carmen is one of the best passers on the team and Davies is perhaps the best setter that North has ever had.
“She gives me different sets and she confuses the heck out of the opposing defense,” explained Kiely. “The blockers don’t know where she’s going and that’s a benefit.”
“I can go on about everyone. Those are just some people that bring different personalities to the team and help us achieve our goals
In their semifinal win over St. Basil’s, the Rock forged ahead with a 25-20 win in game one only to see Basil’s rebound with a 25-19 win of their own.
Tied at 16-all, a late run keyed by a Kiely block and two kills by Davies gave the Indians the win and all the momentum they needed to advance.
“That was the game-changer. We knew we had to win,” stated Davies. “This was the game that tells all. Whoever wins it, they were going to win the match.”
It was team unity helped the Rock pull through in the semis, said Davies.
“We don’t have just one or two stars, we’re a team,” said Davies. “We have amazing right sides, amazing outsides. Our defense will not let a ball drop without a body hitting the floor after it.”
There are seven seniors, three of whom--Kiely, Davies and Carmen--are scattered into the starting lineup. Lauren Malakoff plays back row as does Danielle Stewart, who comes in sometimes for Dowd. But it’s not so much their age but their camaraderie that makes North a cohesive unit that is successful on the hardwood, says Kiely.
“We’re friends--we all want to hang out together. That and the combination with the will to win just makes our team different because our chemistry works so well together,” sge said.
“The team chemistry just flows on this team,” said Davies. “All of us have so much drive and want so much to be the best we can.”
Tomorrow afternoon at Wissahickon, we’ll find out if they’re the best in District One.
Stay tuned.
Labels: Council Rock North, CR North
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