Alter celebrates senior night, ruins CJ’s
By Mickey Shuey
When the Alter volleyball squad took the court for their final home game of the season on Monday, one thing was on Coach Tina Jasinowski’s mind: Finish. In the end, that’s exactly what they did, besting a struggling Centerville team in straight sets.
Entering the game, the Knights had back to back losses to rising power Middletown Fenwick and perennial contender Dublin Coffman, ranked two and three in the state in their respective divisions.
As rough as the match was physically, the emotions also took their toll. This is because the game pitted former teammates against each other.
“It was tough,” Centerville senior Erin Golden said. “You want to root for them when they do good, but at the same time, it was still a big game.”
Golden, who played with each of the graduates-to-be from Alter, knew it would be a difficult game no mater what happened. “We know a lot of people who go (to Alter). Plus it’s a big rivalry, so we knew it would be a hard fought game.”
Although it wasn’t senior night in Kettering, it was still a surreal ending to three remarkable careers. Molly Van Oss, who is currently mending a troubled knee, had to keep herself from being taken by the moment.
“I always find it weird playing against old teammates, but at the same time, I know they’re going to be really into (the game), so that made it so much more fun,” she said.
Though Molly is on the bench, one should note that she was in the zone when the squad celebrated the class of 2011 last Tuesday. “It was ridiculous. Never in the years that I’ve played have I beaten a team (by the score of) 25-1!”
Kelly Westerkamp, whose 16 kills and eight digs were team highs on Monday evening was in good spirits after the game, doing her best to ignore the tape recorder in front of her.
“Before the game (the seniors) told the team that we had to get after them tonight.” After dropping her water bottle from slight embarrassment she continued, “It was so important for us to get this win tonight, especially after those two tough games.”
“Kelly and I have been playing together since the fifth grade; it’s been amazing to see her grow not only as a person, but as a volleyball player too,” remarked outside hitter Jackie Kohls. “Its that way with Molly, too. We have grown so close over these past few years.”
For Kohls, the ending was pretty sweet. Not only did she record 10 kills against the Elks, but also after the game, Justin Winters, a running back on Alter’s football team, asked her to homecoming.
Finish. It was the main point Coach Jasinowski wanted to emphasize. Finish. It’s exactly what the Lady Knights did on Monday versus Centerville, then on Tuesday against Chaminade Julienne.
The Knights spoiled the Eagles’ senior night, escaping with a victory (25-14, 18-25, 25-18, 27-25). Freshman Mary Rodehaver who led the team with 24 assists on Monday, duplicated her performance on Tuesday, plus put up another six.
Volleyball phenomenon Megan Courtney, a junior, notched 28 kills while newcomer Sara Crotty contributed 15 digs.
“It was nice to see us hang on to the win and finish in game four,” the coach said in an email. “We came out very strong in the first game, relaxed, then let (the Eagles) back in the match.”
“But, it was great that we were able to come back and finish.”
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