PHOTO BY KELSEY MISBRENER
Senior libero Sophie Moskowitz (left) and senior middle hitter Erin Wilson helped Cuyahoga Falls to a 25-20, 20-25, 25-15, 25-20 win over Highland in the Barberton Division I Sectional finals. The Black Tigers will face Wadsworth in the district semifinals.
BARBERTON, Ohio -- Cuyahoga Falls' volleyball team has avenged its late-season loss to Highland, and then some.
The Black Tigers got 15 kills and 13 digs from senior Kelsey Beatty on Wednesday night, allowing them to eliminate the Hornets 25-20, 20-25, 25-15, 25-20 in the Barberton Division I Sectional finals.
Third-seeded Cuyahoga Falls will play No. 1 seed Wadsworth in the district semifinals, while the No. 5 seed Hornets finished their season 10-13.
Highland had knocked off the Black Tigers in four games on Oct. 5, but that home victory came with an asterisk, as Cuyahoga Falls coach Josh Stewart noted.
"That was our third match in three nights, so we knew we would be much better against them today," he said. "I also think that loss motivated our girls a little bit coming into this match, which wasn't a bad thing, either."
Senior Erin Wilson continued her surge with 10 kills for the Black Tigers, who also got 20 assists from junior Sydney Robinson and 17 helpers from junior Brittany Anderson.
Robinson also shared team-best honors with senior Sophie Moskowitz at 15 digs, while senior Maddie Edgar recorded a match-high seven blocks.
In the nightcap, the Grizzlies got 13 kills from junior Sabrina Parsons and 12 from sophomore Ciera Koons in a 25-6, 25-8, 25-11 triumph over Akron Garfield.
The Rams were just two days removed from their first tournament victory in a decade, a four-game win over fellow Akron City Series member Kenmore, but were simply overmatched by the Suburban League champions.
“All of our girls kept their spirits up and were positive the whole match tonight, which was a victory in itself,” Garfield coach Tabitha Musick said. “Wadsworth is just a great team, while we’re working hard to become a better one.”
Rams seniors Rebecca Cyc, Jessica Hamaal and Mai-Ker Xiong each had one kill, while Xiong added two assists and Cyc had one helper.
The top half of the Barberton District bracket features second-seeded Medina and Copley. The Bees and Indians will play at 6 p.m. Tuesday, followed by the Grizzlies and Black Tigers.