DISTRICT 4 CHAMPIONSHIPS: ATHENS FALLS IN FIVE-SET HEARTBREAKER IN CLASS 3A TITLE MATCH (24 PHOTOS) (2024-10-30)
By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports ReportAfter fighting from behind all night, Athens let a match point slip away in a five-set loss to Shamokin Wednesday night in the District 4, Class 3A championship match at Williamsport High School.
"It was a tough battle tonight," said Athens coach Heather Darrow. "A big rollercoaster five-game match with an
amazing comeback that just wasn’t enough.
"We just had so many errors and then we would clean it up and boom we get back in it," she noted. "Then more errors, and we would have to clean it up."
Darrow agreed the match was a microcosm of the Wildcats' season.
"I was standing on the sidelines thinking, 'this is exactly what our season has been: an up--and-down roller coaster," she said.
Shamokin won the first set 25-17, but Athens answered with a 25-20 win in the second set.
The Indians took a 2-1 lead with a 25-18 with a third-set win, but the Wildcats again answered with a 25-19 in the fourth set.
In the decisive fifth set, Shamokin raced out to an 11-3 lead.
Trailing 13-9, Athens freshman Ellie Mosher served up five straight points, highlighted by a pair of senior Keaton Wiles kills, to give the Wildcats a 14-13 lead.
However, a side-out tied the match at 14-14, then an Athens hit into the net, and a Shamokin kill gave the Indians a District 4 title.
"That was a tough way to have it end," said Darrow. "The cool thing is the girls found a way to comeback, and nearly had it.
"Unfortunately, a couple errors got us," she added.
Senior Kassie Babcock had 22 kills and 19 digs to lead the Wildcats, while senior Emma Renninger had 26 setter assists and 12 digs, and senior Ella Coyle recorded 38 digs, including the 1,000th of her four-year varsity career.
Sophomore Gretchen Hiley registered eight kills, two blocks, and six digs, while senior Sydney Field had 16 assists and two digs, senior Gretchen Schmieg had 17 digs, senior Anna Geisinger added seven digs, and Mosher chipped in with five kills.
The Wildcats will graduate seven seniors in Coyle,Babcock, Renninger, Wiles, Field, Schmieg, and Geisinger.
"Kassie and Ella have been on varsity since they were freshman," said an emotional Darrow. "I saw something in them, they had that spark, and they stepped in as freshman and contributed.
"Last season was a rough season, but they hung in there with me," she noted. "This season, they were senior leaders, and were very confident.
"Keaton and Gretchen came up as sophomores, and Sydney, Emma, and Anna as juniors. They all contributed, and developed into very good players.
"This group of seniors is extremely special," continued Darrow. "They worked so hard this season and acted as great leaders and mentors to the rest of their teammates.
"They put in so much time this season and have set a great
example to those returning," added Darrow. "They are a great group of girls, and will definitely be missed."
Athens wraps up the season at 5-12.
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IN PHOTO 1: Athens senior Keaton Wiles. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens senior Emma Renninger (8). ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
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