Magnificat High School - Magnifier Yearbook (Rocky River, OH)

Page 57 text:

A high bump is the safest measure for Janet Thornton ’87, backed up by Kerry Spicer ’87 in the first game at Holy Name. Janet bumped 23 times in the Blue Streak come-from-be- hind 15-13, 15-6 victory. Photo by C. Trzcinski. JUNIOR VARSITY VOLLEYBALL 53

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Eventually conference champions, these kids proved they Never breok o do te You and 1 have a date—on October 23, 1983. We will be at Cleveland State; however, this year you will be playing and I will be coaching. When that letter from Miss Polzer arrived in the hands of the junior varsity volleyball players, a shade of doubt passed across a few minds. Nine of the twelve players were new to the Magnificat team. All that inexperience. Besides, they had just put everything they had into a match against Fairview and lost. How could these kids possibly play in the Greater Clevleand Girls Athletic Conference championship at CSU? The Fairview match had shown what these kids were made of. They were aggressive scrap¬ pers—as daring as Da¬ vid. Their Goliath in this instance was Fairview’s intricate 6-2 offense, which the new players hadn’t prepared for. They reacted with 8 successful blocks. The Streaks scrapped for ev¬ ery point to take the first game 16-14. But then net fouls plagued the Magnificat team and 21 balls hit the floor untouched by the end of the match. They resigned the second game to Fairview, 6-15. Now every point counted. Every unre¬ turned serve, every missed ball, every per¬ fectly-executed dink, ev¬ ery foul, every successful spike all added up. When it came to the to¬ tals, Fairview finished two ahead, winning the game and the match. When the conference opener came at St. Au¬ gustine, returning players Mary Kinzel ’85, Bridgette Samame ’85, and Catherine Sweeney ’86 inspired the determination to win. The kids handily took the match 15-8, 15-12. They had taken the first of ten steps to Cleveland State. Next the Blue Streaks electrocuted the Holy Name Green Wave with a shocking 15-9, 15-5 victory. That was step number two. The third conference match pitted the kids against longtime arch-ri¬ val St. Joseph. Their re¬ sponse to everyone’s fears came in the form of a stunning 15-11 first game win. And a smash¬ ing shutout in the second game just served to sweeten the pot. Three down, seven to go. Central Catholic, Erieview, and St. Augus¬ tine fell like flies under the wrath of the Blue Streaks. Megan McClos- key ’87, Tina Fusco ’86, and Lisa Savarino ’87 took the opportunity to perfect their overhand Timing is all it takes for Mary Kinzel ’85 to outwit a Regina blocker. Mary was named the team’s MVP. Photo by Ripcho. serving while Kerry Spicer ’87 broke off a long-standing love affair with the net. Steps four, five, and six became history. Next was Holy Name again. The kids eventually calmed the Green Wave, winning the first game by a slim 15- 13 margin. The second game, however, was a snap, and Magnificat won 15-6. Seven down and three to go. When they faced St. Joseph again, the kids claimed a sweeping 15-4 victory in the first game. But then things began to slip, and the kids suf¬ fered a disappointing 7- 15, 5-15 loss. So they stumbled on step number eight. Next came what the Blue Streaks claimed to be the “conference (continued on page 55) Just a bit nervous. Miss Polzer concentrates on the championship match at CSU. MHS won in 3 games. Photo by Ripcho. 1983 JV Volleyball MHS OPPONENT 2 0 Beaumont 1 2 Fairview 2 0 North Olmsted 2 0 Villa Angela 2 0 St. Augustine 2 0 Lutheran West 2 0 Holy Name 2 0 St. Joseph 2 0 Central Cath. 2 0 Erieview 2 0 St. Augustine 2 0 Holy Name 1 2 St. Joseph 0 2 Regina 2 0 Central Cath. 2 0 Erieview 2 0 Trinity 2 1 Regina Final Record: 15-3 GCCGAC Conference Champions Martha Cutarelli ’84 watches as her sister, Rita ’87, bumps. “Marti,” as a member of the var- sity team, saw all of the JV matches. Photo by C. Trzcinski. 52 JUNIOR VARSITY VOLLEYBALL

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Rotation in the follow- through is essential for Catherine Sweeney ’86 to bump to the front row. Catherine’s 91% bumping and 92% hitting combined to assist the Blue Streaks in claiming the champion¬ ship title. Photo by C. Trzcinski. In the center front po¬ sition, setter Rita Cutarelli ’87 decides that a high bump would give hitters Mary Kinzel ’85 and Bridgette Samame ’85 a better set-up to spike. Rita bumped 40 times in the CSU match. Photo by C. Trzcinski. Knee pads come in handy when Bridgette Samame ’85 has to dive to reach the ball. Bridgette missed the ball only once in the match at St. Joseph Academy. Photo by C. Trzcinski. The characteristic high-five is exchanged between Rita Cutarelli ’87 and Kerry Spicer ’87 after congratulations from Katie Rosfelder ’87 and Bridgette Samame ( 45) ’85. The JV’s became known for their great cheering. Photo by C. Trzcinski. 54 JUNIOR VARSITY VOLLEYBALL