Hanover gets past Bermudian Springs in five-game thriller
Hanover got its revenge Thursday night at Bermudian Springs.
The Hawkettes, who lost to the Eagles three times last season, including a first-round district playoff match, started this season's series off differently by winning a five-set match on the road by a 20-25, 25-11, 25-16, 21-25 score.
The Hawkettes, who dropped the first and fourth games of the match, trailed 8-4 early in the fifth game before scoring six of the next seven points to take a 10-9 lead. Bermudian Springs quickly regained the lead and appeared to extend its lead to 13-11 on an explosive kill by senior Mady Whitcomb, but that point was instead awarded to Hanover because the Eagles botched their rotation when a player went into the game too early.
Bermudian Springs (4-2) scored the next point to take a 13-12 lead, before the Hawkettes (6-2) reeled off three straight points to earn the dramatic victory.
"That's a hard one to take, but everybody makes mistakes," Bermudian Springs coach Mike Beachy said of the rotation error. "That's not the only mistake that occurred in that five-set match, that just happens to be the one that kind of sticks out. But we all had chances to make plays where we didn't make plays, you can't just blame one person."
The Hawkettes' win comes after the two teams played a single game against each other during a tournament in Gettysburg last weekend, which Bermudian Springs won, 25-23.
"We kind of got to get a taste of what they were like, so we had an idea of how to prepare," Hanover coach Liz Garber said. "They're such a great team, it could've gone either way tonight."
Hawkettes senior Saranda Gerlach posted a game-high 31 digs and led her team with nine kills and four aces.
Hanover remained undefeated in Division III play and tied with Delone Catholic for the division lead. The Hawkettes will host the Squirettes on Tuesday.
Hanover def. Bermudian Springs,
20-25, 25-11, 25-16, 21-25, 15-13
at Bermudian Springsl
Hanover stats — Mckenzie Cleary (22 digs, 1 assist, 1 ace), Alyson Reese (6 kills, 1 ace), Kelsey Staub (13 digs, 5 kills, 21 assists, 4 aces), Lexi Daley (18 digs, 3 kills, 17 assists, 3 aces), Saranda Gerlach (31 digs, 9 kills, 1 assist, 4 aces), Shania Womer (12 digs), Maria Drawbaugh (11 kills, 1 ace), Alexa Merrel (5 digs, 9 kills, 1 ace).
Bermudian Springs — Gabby Emeigh (5 aces, 15 digs, 1 block, 4 kills), Mady Whitcomb (3 aces, 8 digs, 6 blocks, 17 kills), Celia Caldwell (1 block), Haley Dull (1 ace, 4 digs, 1 block, 4 kills), McKenzie Jones (7 digs), Kyleigh Kutz (1 kill), Alaina Murren (1 kill, 1 block), Jordyn Pottorff (3 digs), Jenna Rohrbaugh (12 digs, 8 kills), Miki Seifert (3 digs).
JV score — Hanover def. Bermudian Springs 2-1