Woodward Acad. beats Blue Devils for state title
By Stan Awtrey
sports@ledger-enquirer.com
MARIETTA, Ga. — The Columbus volleyball players, their state runner-up medals around their necks, stood and politely applauded Saturday while Woodward Academy was awarded the its trophy and gold medals at center court.
The Blue Devils could express nothing but admiration for the familiar opponent that swept them in the Class AAA championship match at Marietta High School.
“I’m so proud of our girls,” Columbus coach Donna Fleming said. “There are 64 other teams sitting home, and we’re here, so, win or lose, we’ve had a great season.”
Columbus (43-15) competed hard against the Woodward Academy machine, which won its second consecutive state title and eighth overall. Columbus beat Woodward in the 2007 final.
This time, Woodward (44-9) won the first two games 25-21 and 28-26, then dominated the deciding game 25-15.
“We sort of lost our focus in the third game,” said Columbus senior Ashley Forman. “We weren’t the same.”
The first game was tied on seven occasions, the last at 20-20, but Woodward scored five of the final six points. The winner came when a Columbus player tried to set up a play, but the fell among several teammates.
Columbus led much of the second game, including by three points (18-15) late in the contest. The Blue Devils led 24-22 but couldn’t nail down the deciding point. A controversial line call gave Woodward a 27-26 lead, and Woodward’s Brian Spruill put the game away with a kill shot.
Columbus wasn’t the same in the third game. Woodward took control early, pushed the lead to 20-12 and used its killer instinct to ice the game.
“The third game wasn’t our best,” Fleming said. “We just lost our focus.”
Senior Ashleigh Tompa, who had eight kills and one block, said, “We didn’t have the same intensity we had the first two games.”
Columbus had trouble placing its serve in play. The Blue Devils served long or wide four times in the first game, five times in the second game, and four times in the third game.
“We may have had some jitters,” Fleming said. “It’s a big arena, a big crowd, a lot of noise.”
The Blue Devils were pleased to see the fans — including their mascot — who made the trip to Marietta. With three sophomores and three juniors in the starting lineup, the team is poised to make another run at the title in 2010.
“It was a good year,” Tompa said. “We fought hard and worked every day since June to get here.”
“I’m very proud of how we played,” said Forman, who had eight digs. “We had a lot of injuries and people have been sick, so we’re proud of the success we’ve had.”
Saturday at Marietta High
Woodward Academy 25 28 25
Columbus 21 26 15
Individual leaders: Columbus: Kristen Fleming 20 assists, 12 digs, 4 kills, 1 ace; Elizabeth Copeland 5 kills, 1 dig; Ashley Forman 8 digs; Ashleigh Tompa 8 kills, 1 block; Khadijah Wiley 3 kills, 1 block, 1 dig; Krista Bradford 3 kills, 10 digs, 1 ace; Saudia Sanchez 1 kill 2 digs, 1 ace; Taylor Ray 9 digs; Avary Carpenter 3 digs.
Woodward Academy: Sydney Cooper 8 kills; Brian Spruill 9 kills; Molly Miller 4 kills; Kelsey Eastman 3 kills.
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