Queen Creek VB helps playoff push with victory over Seton

October 17, 2012 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Queen Creek was the more needy team Wednesday night needing to keep piling up wins to keep its spot and perhaps move up a few over the final two weeks of the season in Division IIvolleyball  seedings.

For the second time in as many nights this week, Queen Creek answered the bell, posting a 25-20, 22-25, 25-20, 25-21 victory over Seton Catholic in an interdivisional match at Queen Creek.

"It wasn't our best night, but it was an exciting match," Queen Creek coach Erica Crismon said. "We always get excited when we play Seton. They have a good program. It's the kind of match that keeps our confidence up."

Queen Creek improved to 21-11 overall and 13-3 in seeding games in Division II. The Bulldogs entered the week No. 16 in the D-II seedings. Wins over Higley on Tuesday and Seton should boost them next week. The Bulldogs have one match remaining (next Tuesday at Desert Ridge).

Seton, which played for the second time this week without two of its top players -- Reggie VanDevender and Alexis Falatyn -- saw its record fall to 15-9 overall and 11-5 in Division III seeding games. The Sentinels are four-time defending champions of D-III and (4AA-II), but are in the midst of a rebuilding year under first-year coach Sonia Jones. The Sentinels should still comfortably qualify for state. They entered play this week 7th in  D-III seedings.

Queen Creek managed to put together the best runs Wednesday when it counted -- late in each game. After splitting the first two games, the Bulldogs pulled away going to their top hitter for critical points. Junior oustide Jasmine Hanna posted six kills in game 3 and seven more in game 4. She totaled 19 for the evening. The game she was most quiet in was game 2 (one kill). The game Queen Creek lost.

"We know she's the one to go to when things are tight," Crismon said.

Jones wasn't disheartened despite the loss. Seton was swept on Monday this week by Tempe Prep, one of the top Division IV teams. That was the first match played without VanDevender and Falatyn.

"We had some of our younger players pick us up tonight," Jones said. "I thought we bounced back and played much better than we did Monday. We had lots of playersmake a contribution. We just fell short when it came time to get small strings of points."

Sophomores Nicole Kinsey (16 kills) and Erin Gesicki (12 kills) led Seton offensviely. Junior Natalie Hawes had 16 digs and Becca Blaser added 10 digs. Seton closes its regular season next Tuesday Oct. 23 and Thursday Oct. 25 at home with Tempe High and Marcos de Niza, respectively.