WAYNESBORO, Pa. – It would take a full-length book to chronicle what happened inside the Waynesboro Area Senior High School gymnasium on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
The Waynesboro Maidens varsity volleyball team defeated the Chambersburg Trojans in a District 3 Class 6A first-round playoff match 3-1. Chambersburg notched a 25-21 win in the first set. But Waynesboro roared back to win the next three sets, 25-16, 25-15 and, in one of the most back-and-forth matches of all time, the Maidens defeated the Trojans in the fourth set 29-27, which set off a wild celebration.
Waynesboro improved its record to 15-6, having won 11 of the past 12 matches dating back to Sept. 15. Now, the Mid-Penn Colonial Division champions will travel to play the Berks County Interscholastic Athletic Association Division I winners Wilson High School in West Lawn. The Bulldogs are 19-1.
The Maidens will make the two-plus hour trip as considerable underdogs.
However, no matter the outcome, Waynesboro has experienced a memorable season, one that began without longtime head coach Kim Saunders, who passed away unexpectedly on July 27. Emily Nystrom was appointed interim head coach. Nystrom, who spent seven years as an assistant to Saunders, has performed like an experienced head coach in only her first season.
“These girls are tight,” Nystrom said after the win over Chambersburg. “They have each other’s backs, and it’s gonna be fun.”
If by fun Nystrom means just competing and leaving it on the court, expect Waynesboro to give Wilson all it can handle. That’s what the Maidens did on Tuesday, and the team is hoping the effort carries over into Saturday morning’s quarterfinal match at Wilson, which starts at 11 a.m.
“We’ve been through so much, and we continue to work together every day and grow more of a bond, and when one person does something well, we all connect together,” said Waynesboro’s junior middle hitter Sarah Aldrich. “Sometimes you need someone to bring the energy back to the court, and whoever it is, it just carries us on and we just keep going and execute.”
Aldrich, who notched her 500th kill during the match, summarized the match to a T. Just when it looked like Chambersburg was going to go on a run, someone came through with a clutch dig, set, or volley.
The Maidens staggered out of the gate, despite taking a 6-1 lead on the heels of Maddie Nystrom’s serves and Aldrich’s play at the net.
Trailing 7-3 and then 9-6 nearly halfway through the first set, Chambersburg went on the attack. The Trojans caught up to the Maidens, tying the set at 10-10, and then they took a 16-12 lead and led the rest of the way. The score was 16-15 when Chambersburg scored on a side out and Grace Myers served for three points to make it 20-15.
Aldrich got the kill to give Waynesboro the serve, but the Maidens couldn’t keep it. After a side out, Chambersburg’s Natalie Miller served for two points to up the lead to 22-17.
In the second game, Waynesboro again jumped out to a 7-3 lead. This time, the Maidens didn’t let the advantage slip away. Aldrich delivered a key kill, while Lylah Shacreaw and Bryn Reed contributed from the service line to help Waynesboro maintain control.
Kara Eskridge, who recorded her 500th assist during the match, also contributed from the service line, as did Chloe Shacreaw and Maddie Nystrom, who reached 500 kills for the season. Waynesboro went on to win the second set 25-16 and followed with a 25-15 victory in the third.
The fourth set was simply chaotic.
Waynesboro trailed 22-17 and stared a fifth set in the face. However, the Maidens played the role of Cardiac Kids and rallied to tie the fourth set 24-24 and then scored the next point. Sitting on match point, the Maidens gave up the next two points to trail 26-25. But Aldrich asserted herself at the net, scoring back-to-back points to give Waynesboro a 27-26 lead.
Chambersburg tied things up when Marlie Newman sent the ball back with a violent kill. This time, the Maidens played for keeps. Aldrich put Waynesboro back on top with a strong kill, and Kayaunna Mouer served for the match point after a lengthy rally.
“We definitely knew what we were getting into, and we knew placement over power was going to be the difference in how we were going to get our points,” said Eskridge.
Photos by Toya McCleary
