Wood rolls into another state title game

Maplewood girls volleyball team seeks seventh state championship Saturday after sweeping Eden-Christian Tuesday night.

​Eden got stronger as the match went but they weren’t able to fend off a very disciplined Maplewood squad that won 25-4,25-21 and 25-20. The last set the Tigers had to come from behind being down 15-9 at one point. 

Last Saturday the Tigers lost their only set the entire state tournament. 
In that game, from the opening whistle it was looking like the Tigers may have met their match. The first set wasn’t ugly, but Frasier was ready for everything Sheila Bancroft’s Tigers had, including a comeback.
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The Tigers could never grab a lead. Down 10-5, Bancroft wasn’t in panic mode and just kept coaching from the sidelines without a time out.

Her team responded, coming back to tie at 14, then 16 and again at 22, but never got a lead. At 22-19 Bancroft called her first timeout and it seemed to be the fix, but Frasier had an answer calling a timeout at 22-21 and then only gave up one more point taking the first set 25-22.
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Wood came out of the break with avengence taking an 8-1 lead. But then it was Frasier’s turn to come back and it looked as if they had the magic sauce to keep Wood off balance taking the lead 12-11.

But that was really all the Commanders’ had and Wood went on a seven point run before Frazier called a timeout that did little to help.

​After the timeout Frazier, who was discombobulated by a few calls against them, dropped another six straight. Wood cruised to a second set win 25-14.

The third set was another beauty with both teams punching and counter punching. But this time the Tigers just managed to hold off Frazier who made a series of mistakes that helped Maplewood increase their momentum.

​Frazier battled back to a 23-23 tie but dropped the last two, giving the Tigers all the momentum they needed to ride out the threat and pretty much take all of the wind out of the Commander’s sails. Wood cruised to an easy 25-9 fourth set victory.
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Maplewood will take on District 11 top seed Tri-Valley at 10:30 a.m. at Cumberland Valley High School. 

Photo from Saturday's match against Frazier.