J.H. Rose claims its second straight 4-A volleyball crown

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RALEIGH - On Saturday night at Reynolds Coliseum, Greenville's J.H. Rose Ramparts (25-0) took on the Ardrey Kell High (24-6) from Charlotte in the 2009 North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4-A Volleyball Championships.

In probably the best final of the day, the Rampants fought off the Knights attack to claim a 3-1 win and add a matching piece of hardware to their 2008 volleyball trophy.

Ardrey Kell is one of the many new high schools in the Charlotte area. This was only their second winning season in volleyball and they finished second in the Southwestern Conference. They fought through the championship bracket as an underdog - knocking off three conference winners to meet Rose for the championship.

Although a tenacious opponent, it was outgunned in the end by a well-seasoned veteran Rose team.

In set one, Virginia Tech-bound senior Samantha Gostling put down two kills as the Knights took an early lead 3-1. The Rampants stormed back with six straight points on kills by senior MVP and College of Charleston recruit Emily Neideffer and senior Western Carolina-bound Emily Mannie. The Rampants rampaged on with assistance from junior Jamie DeRatt and senior Aubrey Rushing as they slowly moved away from the Knights and took the set 25-16.

In set two, Ardrey Kell jumped out quickly and never trailed in the set.  Senior Diana Marren started the set with a kill and was soon joined in the Knights' attack by junior Kristin Wyczawski and Gostling. Junior Caroline Douglas, Neideffer, and DeRatt carried the attack for the Rampants. 

The Rampants tied at 10-all, but the Knights then reeled off six unanswered points and the Rampants never could overcome the deficit.  Gostling finished with a kill to claim the set 25-20.

Set three was back and forth with the lead changing hands every few points.  The Rampants were ahead at 13-9 but the Knights charged back to take the lead 17-15. Then the Rampants reclaimed the lead 21-19. Tied at 21, 22, and 23 the teams were trading kills like two boxers trading body blows in the ring.

At 23-all, the Rampants DeRatt put down a kill and was followed on the next play by a smooth dink by Rushing. As the Knights scrambled in vain to rescue the dying tip, the Ramparts snatched the set away 25-23.

Set four was more of the same. The Knights grabbed a 5-1 lead behind three kills by Gostling, only to see the Rampant surge ahead 11-8 on four kills by four different players. Gostling, Wyczawski and Marren fought hard at the net to push the Knights back to the front 18-15. Then Rose took control. A kill by Douglas stopped Ardrey Kell's onslaught and then she got two service points that never came back over the net. 

Gostling tried to intercede with a powerful kill, but that was all for the Knights as Neideffer and DeRatt combined for five kills and a dink and closed out the set with a powerful cross court kill to claim the set 25-19 and Rose's second straight state title.
 
Ardrey Kell head coach Zoe Bell was complimentary of the game Rose played and stated the two point third game loss was probably the turning point in the game. If the Knights had won, there would have been pressure on Rose, but with the loss the pressure was on the Knights. She praised her team for a great year and about their underdog run through the Western Championships. She had special praise for her hard hitting senior Samantha Gostling.

Rose head coach Norman Cabacar seemed delighted with his perfect season but said that championship two was no easier than the first. MVP Neideffer stated that she was surprised by her selection as she thought Jamie DeRatt would be the MVP.   

Rose: Neideffer 15 kills, 7 blocks, 8 digs; DeRatt 10 kills, 2 blocks, 10 digs; Douglas 10 kills, 5 blocks, 11 digs; Rushing 9 kills, 1 block, 10 digs.

Ardrey Kell: Gostling 22 kills, 3 blocks, 10 digs; Marren 8 kills, 2 blocks, 2 digs; Wyczawski 7 kills, 7 digs.