Notre Dame Varsity Seniors 2015 PAISAA Champions
BRYN MAWR, PA-- It was a tale of two Inter-Ac rivals, a tale of true sportsmanship, a tale of two teams vying for the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association Title at The Baldwin school Wednesday night.
One team Germantown Academy (15-2) Inter-Ac Champs with an undefeated league record (8-0); the other team familiar with victory, the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur (16-5), (6-2) Inter-Ac league champs for 4 out of the last 5 years and state champs for the last two. What more can you ask for as a spectator. Two great teams playing for that final win. The “State Championship.”
“Every game we play them it seems like the intensity has been getting higher, higher and higher,” said Germantown Head Volleyball Coach Dan Sullivan whose four-year-old program maintains an impressive record.
“I told my coaches it's either going to be an easy win or it’s going to be a 5 set crazy, crazy match.”
“Crazy” an understatement, pure adrenalin, and magnificent displays of athleticism a definite.
Warming up before the buzzer both teams embracing their teammates with hugs, high 5’s, and chants of “we got this”. Each player taking her location onto the court, positions ready … the first serve and with the snap of the ball both sides immediately formed their collective forces volleying back-and-forth. Both teams molded by seniors; 7 on Notre Dame, 5 on GA all having paid their dues leading up to this moment.
“My expectations going into this match was exactly the way it turned out, it was going to be a 5 set match and it was going to be a battle and it was going to be a point-for-point kind of a game,” said Academy of Notre Dame Head Coach Mike Sheridan.
A point-for-point battle indeed…
The first set tied 6 times within the first six points with GA wining 25-22.
The second set claimed by Notre Dame 25-23 with 9 ties.
Intensity mounted by the third set with 11 incredible ties. GA behind 21-16 managed to rally back with a 25-23 win.
The Patriots took a readily 12-7 lead in the fourth before the Irish called a time-out.
Sheridan, who is in his 13th season as head coach, knew exactly what this set meant.
“I have seven seniors who have been with me for three years on varsity and I said to them, ladies it’s now or never. They came out from that time- out with such energy and passion that they were not going to be stopped,” said Sheridan.
Rallying back in the fourth set, the Irish took the win (25-19).
Intense Fourth Set
PAISAA Championship Game Highlights: Great dig by Ashley Haas and one of 14 kills by Shannon Quigley
For GA, their purpose on the court this day meant more than just winning a title. They were playing in memory of a friend, a classmate, a true Patriot, Bobby Taggart '16 who passed away last week.
“These girls are awesome,” said Sullivan. They’ve had so much adversity this week. They went out there, put their game faces on and played this game for him, for Bobby, they wanted to win for him-they were tremendous.”
For Notre Dame, their inspiration coming from a classmate, a fellow athlete Leann Purcell ‘16, who had undergone a liver transplant this year, and was cheering them on from a hospital.
“She is really such a strong girl. She has been through a lot. She has really pushed us this whole season to have the strength she has,” said senior tri-captain #20 Ashley Haas, who delivered 31 heart-stopping digs.
“We knew this game was going to be intense, back-and-forth all along. We knew we had to keep the energy up and stay focused,” said Haas.
Academy of Notre Dame Game Stats
Shannon Quigley: 14 kills
Ashley Haas: 31 digs
Ali Rae: 36 assists
Allison Hendrick 18 kills
Elise Butler 10 aces, 16 digs
The 2015 PAISAA State Champions Academy of Notre Dame
Germantown Academy 2015 2nd Place PAISAA Champions
Germantown Academy Game Stats
Carly Pruitt: 20 kills
Grace Polisano: 14 kills, 8 digs, 1 ace
Jenna Schumann: 4 kills
Emma Rapp: 2 kills 1 block, 1 dig, 1 dig
Abby Starzecky: 2 kills, 1 block, 1 dig
Erin Lindahl: 10 digs
Cat Polisano: 38 assists, 4 aces
The 2015 PAISAA Championship Final Academy of Notre Dame 3-2 Victory over Germantown Academy
The fifth and deciding match- both sides on the court with such an intensity and focus that had some fans cheering while others covered their eyes knowing that this was anyone’s win to claim.
Back- and-forth once again, a pivotal turning point for the Irish as they took the lead. The Irish claimed their third PAISAA Title with a 15-10 victory over the Patriots 3-2.
Notre Dame senior tri-captain #12 Shannon Quigley, who delivered 14 irretrievable kills, has been a member of the varsity team for three years and knew this time her team was ready.
“We had lost to them twice before. Our team was not a hundred percent then. This time we were a hundred percent. We were so hyped. We wanted it so badly, this was our last time so we wanted to come out with a win,” said Quigley.
Rounding out the tri-captain leadership, senior #23 Ali Rae with 36 spectacular sets, Rae touted the delivery of her entire team.
“Everyone, I mean everyone stepped it up today and that was the most that could have happened for us. Every single person improved on what they have been doing all season long. Everyone played awesome. This is the last time we were on the court. This is the one that mattered. I’m really proud of everyone,” said Rae.
Passion, compassion and raw emotion displayed by both teams; each playing for a specific reason and driven by a purpose that goes beyond themselves.
“I don’t think we will ever see a game like that again,” said George Stuhl, who just came to watch because he heard it was going to be a great match-up.
Perhaps not… a game played by two teams whose caliber and skills were matched almost to perfection.
Well, that is….until next season!!