STATE COLLEGE -- When the final Northeastern kill attempt hit the net and dropped on the same side of the floor, it dashed the hopes for the team that made comebacks an art form in 2009.

The Bobcats fought long and hard to reach the PIAA Class AA semifinals at Penn State University's Multi-sport Indoor Complex. They just didn't have an answer for Maplewood.

Northeastern's quest to go to the state title game and play top-ranked Ambridge fell one game short as second-ranked Maplewood earned a 25-14, 22-25, 25-14, 25-19 victory.

"They made plays that we didn't," Bobcat coach Matt Wilson said. "We had leads and didn't hold them and we gave up runs of points. They are the better team."

During the final game, the Bobcats took a 3-0 lead, only to see the District 10 champion Tigers respond with five straight points.

Northeastern tied the game at 10 on a Nick Michalak kill off a long volley, but Maplewood followed by running off the next six points for a 16-10 lead.

That advantage grew to 21-14. Never quitting, the Bobcats rallied behind a pair of Nic Shoemaker blocks that cut the gap to 22-18.

However, unlike Friday when Northeastern came back from the brink of elimination to win its pool, there would be no such dramatics.

The Bobcats righted themselves in Game 2, and were up 14-10. Maplewood went on a 9-2 run, eventually taking a 21-19 lead, but junior Cory Bair notched two kills and a block in the final four points of the Northeastern win.

However, the

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third game was all about runs -- and the Tigers ripped off four of three or more points.

Maplewood's defense was tremendous, answering every Bobcat run and challenging every possession. It was the difference in the match.

"The defense started in the front line. We got our hands on a lot of balls, slowed a few things down and that helped us out," Tiger coach Sheila Bancroft said. "Defense wins championships."

When a kill attempt did get through the Maplewood front line, libero Ty Rhoades was there to dig the ball off the floor.

"They played state championship-caliber defense," Wilson said. "We had a couple of shots there with no block and they were bringing them up.

"They stepped up, which we knew they would. We stepped up as well. I am very proud."

Wilson has a lot to feel good about. The Bobcats won the District 3 championship last week and reached the state semis while playing four sophomores and two juniors a lot of the time.

Northeastern could be poised to return to states next season and beyond, although Wilson is not looking too far ahead.

"Chances are good, but no guarantees," he said. "You can't look at what our average age is because there are no guarantees. So, we have a lot of work to do."

Shoemaker said that knowing his team returns so many key players is nice -- to a degree.

"We wanted to do this for our seniors, so it is really hard to think about next year," he said.

The sophomore co-captain had another solid, all-around game with 23 assists, six blocks, four kills and three digs. Fellow sophomore Ian Tyger added nine kills, five digs, two blocks and an assist.

"It was a heck of a season," Wilson said. "(The kids) did everything we have asked. There can only be one truly great team and for us to finish third in the state is an awesome thing to think about."

Ambridge wound up winning the championship by defeating Maplewood, 25-15, 25-10, 25-19, in Saturday's title match.
snavaroli@ydr.com, 771-2060