Prep Volleyball Notes: Jets’ big victory benefits the Irish

Northeastern's Haley Sparks spikes the ball as Greeneview's Becky Montgomery goes up to block the shot during a match last week. Staff photo by Bill Lackey

Bill Lackey Northeastern's Haley Sparks spikes the ball as Greeneview's Becky Montgomery goes up to block the shot during a match last week. Staff photo by Bill Lackey

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By Kermit Rowe, Staff Writer 10:03 PM Wednesday, October 19, 2011

SPRINGFIELD — If it is the end of the season, you can expect the Northeastern Jets to make their presence felt — regardless of their record.

And their record hasn’t been very impressive the last few years. But somehow, under former coach Kari Kitchen or current coach Tiffani Kaffenbarger, the Jets leave their mark.

In previous seasons, it’s been in the Division III postseason tournament. This year, they didn’t wait for the tourney as they stunned Ohio Heritage Conference once-beaten, three-time defending champion West Liberty-Salem in straight games on the last night of league play. That forced the Tigers to share the league title with Catholic Central.

“Our match against West Liberty was the highlight of my season as their coach,” said Kaffenbarger. “I could not have been any more proud of their effort and most importantly their pure heart to win the match.

“Being down 19-4 in the second set and winning took everything I knew they had in them this whole season.”

The Irish faithful benefited from Northeastern’s effort.

“Tiffany said I owe her big,” Central Catholic coach Stacey Webster, whose team finished 12-2 in the league, tied with WLS, said with a big laugh. “It was very big. Not to take anything away from Northeastern’s win, but we were very surprised. When you put you hearts and heads together, good things can happen.”

For your team, and for others.

“We are very excited,” said Webster. “That just shows what a team can do when they refuse to give up.

“I wish you could get that into the kids’ heads all the time. If you want to win, you’ll be surprised what you can do.”

Webster said she felt her team was championship caliber, no matter what the final standings might have said.

“I think we were,” she said. “We split with the other two top teams, and we went five games in both our losses.”

Kaffenbarger was not only impressed with her Jets, but also with WLS coach Marie Darr.

“West Liberty’s coach was gracious and complimentary of us after the match,” she said. “I think it showed how important it is to be competitors on the court and friends off. We are fortunate to have a good base of coaches for the most part in Clark County and surrounding areas.”

Stats champions: Shawnee had two of the five leaders in the area’s final regular-season stats report: Junior Lauren Hogan (5.0 kills per game) and senior Becca Dewitt (10.1 assists). The other stats champs were Central senior Alison Lohnes (7.0 digs), WLS senior Becka Peterson (2.0 blocks) and Tecumseh senior Chelsey Davis (1.1 aces).

Dinks: In the final state coaches poll, Urbana finished 10th in D-II and Central was 19th in D-IV ... Greeneview’s deep Tobe family roots grew even deeper Tuesday night as former long-time head coach Jan Tobe’s daughter, Greeneview coach Amanda Stratton, opposed her daughter-in-law, Carmen Mersh Tobe, who is coach at Clermont Northeastern, in the Blanchester D-III sectionals. Carmen met and Tobe’s son, Mark, during Tobe’s first season coaching at Wilmington College. The Rams won 3-0.

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