Published: November 03, 2009 12:29 am      

District 6 volleyball roundup

NEW PARIS – Conemaugh Valley dropped the first game of its District 6 Class A volleyball match with Ferndale, but the Blue Jays didn’t drop their heads.

Conemaugh Valley rallied to beat Ferndale 16-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-20 on Monday night and earn a spot in the quarterfinals.

“The girls just really put their heart out there after losing their first game,” Conemaugh Valley coach Lauren Hildebrand said.

“They didn’t want to end their season that way. They picked it up and really worked hard to come out with the win.”

Beth Kendera had 16 kills and eight blocks while Taylor Smolko had 35 assists. Katelyn Emigh added 12 digs as the Blue Jays beat the Yellow Jackets after splitting their season series.

“It’s a pretty big win,” Hildebrand said. “It’s tough playing a team three times in the season. By the third time you know each other pretty well. Every time we play it’s a tough game. We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy win for either team.”

Ferndale coach Kim Reighard said they had trouble getting shots past Conemaugh Valley.

“They played a real tough defensive game,” she said. “We had a tough time running our offense because we didn’t play that well defensively.”

The Yellow Jackets end the season with a 13-6 mark.

“I was thrilled with our season,” Reighard said. “I lost nine seniors last year, and this group had very little experience and was small. I was thrilled with how they played as a team. They really hung in there in some really tough matches.”

Conemaugh Valley will visit Northern Cambria, the state’s top-ranked team, at 7:30 tonight, but Hildebrand doesn’t expect her team to be intimidated.

“It’s really more of a determination to knock them off than anything,” she said. “The girls are looking forward to the chance to try to do that.”

Bishop Carroll 3 Bellwood-Antis 0

HUNTINGDON – Katie Wyland had 11 kills and 14 service points to help Bishop Carroll defeat Bellwood-Antis 25-21, 25-14, 25-10.

“I’m really proud of the team because this is the first time that we’ve advanced past the first round,” Bishop Carroll coach Joe Skura said. “We did well both offensively and defensively. It was a total team effort.”

Annie Takacs added 13 kills and Sunny Settle had 28 assists for the Lady Huskies (13-7), who will play second-seeded West Branch at 7:30 p.m. tonight in quarterfinal action.

“West Branch is a pretty strong team,” Skura said. “We’ll have to play another strong game. We hope we can give them a battle.”

Class AA

Richland 3

Bald Eagle Area 0

HOUTZDALE – Kaleigh Hudak had 23 service points, 11 digs and seven kills as Richland defeated Bald Eagle Area 25-22, 29-27, 25-19.

“We started off a little nervous and played through it,” Richland coach Gina Leis-Hockensmith said. “In the second set, we were down 10-1 and came back and then were down 23-17 and came back to win it 29-27. We had a great team effort and played great defense throughout the match.”

Katie Minemyer added 14 service points, six digs and two kills while Ella Tessari supplied 23 assists, four kills and three digs. Maria Pecora had 10 kills and a block and Lindsay Berkebile provided nine kills and seven digs.

The Rams will take on top-seeded Philipsburg-Osceola tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Huntingdon 3 Westmont 0

HUNTINGDON – Sixth-seeded Huntingdon downed Westmont Hilltop 25-13, 25-23, 25-23 to advance to today’s quarterfinals against third-seeded Bellefonte.

Chestnut Ridge 3 Penns Valley 1

NEW PARIS – Fifth-seeded Chestnut Ridge dispatched

No. 12 Penns Valley 25-13,

25-14, 25-19 to advance to today’s quarterfinals against fourth-seeded Penn Cambria at 6 p.m. at Philipsburg.