Cardinals Win Silver in the Silver Division at Columbia Tournament
The Columbia Cardinals won their first medal
at the Columbia 14s Invitational on February 10th, taking silver in
the silver division.
The Cardinals began the tournament with a
match against WSY from Harrisburg. Taylor Simpson got the Cardinals started in
the first game with two serving aces, and the lead see-sawed back and forth.
Nicole Eder, Abby Thrift and Simpson had kills for the Cardinals, but WSY took
game one, 30-28. In game two, the Cardinals fell behind early, 13-6. Two good
serves by Maggie Todorovich and a kill by Thrift started the turn around. Maui
Mullineaux then ran off a string of 13 serves (9 aces), supported by kills by
Shelley Hynson and Thrift, to put the Cardinals ahead, 22-15. Hynson served two
aces to give the Cardinals the win, 25-15. The Cardinals led for most of game
three, and finished with two strong serves from Chrissy Costabile and a big
block by Sarah Horstkamp, for a final score of 15-4.
The Cardinals next lost to a strong NVVA team
from Fairfax, but hung tough. Sarah Calvert provided strong back row defense
and combined with Hynson for an athletic save. Laura Zabriskie had a key block,
and Calvert, Horstkamp, Todorovich, Thrift, and Hynson had kills. The final
scores were 22-25 and 14-25.
In the playoffs, the Cardinals easily handled
the Liberty Belles, 25-13 and 25-11. The first game featured kills by Costabile,
Hynson, and Simpson, and a long serving run by Mullineaux. It ended with a
strong kill by Zabriskie. Mullineaux had another long serving run in game two
(eight in a row, two aces), and Simpson matched with one of her own (seven in a
row, six aces). Eder served an ace to bring the score to 24-10, and Thrift had
the winning kill for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals played NVVA Loudon for the
championship of the silver division. They lost the first game, 7-25. But the
team showed strength and poise and came back to take game two. After an early
lead, the Cardinals were down 11-13, and Eder served four straight to put her
team back on top. Mullineaux raced athletically around the court, saving errant
balls and setting her teammates. Calvert ran off five serves and contributed a
kill, Thrift had a kill, Todorovich and Hynson had great digs, and Horstkamp had
a block. Simpson served for the win, 25-22. But the third game was all NVVA,
8-15.
An injured Lucy Gumpert, one of the team’s
setters, cheered her team on from the sidelines. Coach Robert Moy praised his
young team, saying they were beginning to play together as a team and had shown
a lot of heart and hustle. “This,” he told them, holding up a medal, “is only
the first of many pieces of jewelry you are going to win.” The team’s next test
will be at the Gettysburg Battlefield Classic, Feb. 24th.
