As far as storybook runs are concerned, the Spring-Ford girls volleyball team finds itself in the midst of one of the greatest ones the school has ever seen.
Spring-Ford won its fifth straight match – a 3-1 state semifinal victory over Central Dauphin – to clinch a trip to the PIAA 4A state championship match. The Rams have never reached the state semifinals before and had to climb their way here as the final team from District One.
The final chapter of the Rams’ story will unfold in the state final Nov. 16 at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg (6 p.m.) where these resilient Rams (21-7) take on District 7 champion North Allegheny (20-1).
To say these teams have different resumes is a vast understatement.
The Tigers are playing in their eighth straight championship game after defeating Hempfield 3-0 in their half of the bracket. The Rams are one win away from a championship in only the program’s second state tournament appearance.
The past does not matter now, though, as a state championship is equally within both teams’ grasp.
The Spring-Ford girls volleyball team found itself in a difficult spot last month following a District One 4A quarterfinal loss to Upper Merion. If the Rams were to reach states, it required two straight victories over teams ranked ahead of them in the tournament.
As it turned out, Spring-Ford was more than up to the task. The 12th-seeded Rams upended No. 6 Plymouth Whitemarsh on Oct. 31 with a 3-1 victory in the tournament’s final elimination game, following a win over No. 8 Downingtown East to complete the improbable comeback. At states, Spring-Ford scored wins over Unionville, Parkland, and Central Dauphin to reach the finals.
According to Rams coach George Fuller, the Rams’ struggle to get to this point set them up for success.
“Playing in the Liberty Division of the PAC means we play incredible teams like (Pope John Paul) and Upper Merion a total of six times in the regular season and playoffs,” Fuller said. “While those matches didn’t go our way, they really helped to strengthen our mental toughness and determination to make adjustments and get past our mistakes more quickly.”
North Allegheny earned its ticket to the finals with wins over Manheim Township, Bishop Shanahan, and Hempfield.
