Glass collapses Fort, reaches Region III final, Group AA tourney

E.C. Glass senior Mary Grace Lemon (23) puts up a block against Fort Defiance in the Hilltoppers' sweep of the Indians in a Region III semifinal, Thursday night at Wilson Memorial.

By: By Josh Laprevotte | Lynchburg News and Advance
Published: November 13, 2009

FISHERSVILLE — E.C. Glass proved to be a little too much for Fort Defiance on Thursday night in the Region III semifinals. The Hilltoppers swept the Indians in three games 25-16, 25-20, 25-14.

Glass overpowered the Indians with its size at the net from the very start of the match, along with serving ability, throwing the Indians off their game.

Hilltoppers coach David Cardwell said serving was the difference for his team.

“I thought tonight we did a great job on our serves. We took them out of the game early,” he said. “I knew coming in they had a few weapons. We had actually seen them play once this year, so we knew what to expect.”

Glass put Fort Defiance in a bind by jumping out to a big lead in Game 1. The Indians tried to rally late, but the Hilltoppers had a big enough lead to hang on for a 25-16 win.

In Game 2, the Indians responded and matched the Hilltoppers’ intensity, but once again Glass was able to pull away from the Indians. Fort tried to rally late and found a rhythm that made it comfortable, but it all came a little too late, falling short 25-20.

“We dug ourselves into some big holes and by the time we finally got into our rhythm, it was too late,” Fort Defiance coach Lynn Alexander said. “We made some mistakes and they cost us. You can’t expect to make mistakes and beat a team like E.C. Glass.”

The Hilltoppers marched right into the Region III championship game with a 25-14 win in Game 3 and, more importantly, clinched a spot in the Group AA tournament.

“This was a really big game for us, the biggest we have had all year,” said senior Kim Amerell. “Our communication was on tonight and we played as a team and focused on just playing our type of game.”

Amerell helped the Hilltoppers all night with her serves and intensity.

“Kim has been such a great piece to this team. Her serves have been getting better lately,” Cardwell said. “Serves are what was working for us tonight and Kim did her part for us with some great serves.”

Amerell finished the match with 11 kills, 13 digs and six of the Hilltoppers’ 14 aces.