Garnet Valley holds on to win District 1 Class 4A volleyball title

LOWER MERION — It was almost a case of déjà vu for Garnet Valley High volleyball team Thursday night. The key word being almost.

Back in September, in the third match of the season, the Jaguars won the first two sets against Unionville only to drop the next three for their only loss of the season.

Garnet Valley avoided a repeat of that defeat as it took control of the fifth set early and held on to win the District 1 Class 4A volleyball title with a 3-2 triumph over the Longhorns at Harriton High.

“We just thought if we’re going to do it, we have to do it now,” said setter Maddie Wood, the reigning Daily Times Player of the Year. “There’s no more time to waste. There’s no more messing around. If we want to win this thing we have to win it now.”

Like the first meeting, the third-seeded Jaguars (22-1) took the first two sets, 25-16 and 25-16, and appeared to be in control. The Longhorns, though, showed why they were undefeated and the No. 1 seed by sweeping the next two sets, 25-21 and 25-22.

Much of that had to do with the play of the Unionville (21-1) back line, led by libero Ava Van Deusen, the setting of junior Olivia Harper, and the play at the net of middle hitter Vivian Geiger, outside hitter Madelyn Lowe and right side Ava Brenner. That trio matched the Jaguars swing for swing and also came up with huge blocks.

Garnet Valley, though, was not going to be denied its first district title since winning the Class A crown in 1984, according to head coach Mark Clark. The Jaguars kept their cool throughout the contest, especially in the decisive fifth set.

“We bounced back nice,” Clark said. “They’re a great team. That’s what they do and we have to be ready for that. They’re not going to fold. They’re going to push, push, push and they made us push back. Finally, in Game 5, we pushed hard.”

No one pushed harder than freshman Sarah Wood, who collected five of her team-high 35 kills in the final set including the winner off a dink from her sister Maddie to set off a wild championship celebration. The final **** was the opposite of her other 34 kills, which came on big swings.

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Garnet Valley volleyball players react to the final point as they defeated Unionville in the District 1 Class 4A Championship Thursday at Harriton High School in five games. (Pete Bannan - MediaNews Group)