Garnet Valley raises Cain in states opener

UPPER DUBLIN >> Garnet Valley swept past District

11 runner-up Emmaus, 3-0, Tuesday in a PIAA Class 4A state tournament opener at Upper Dublin High School, while rolling up scores of

25-17, 25-20, 25-23. “Overall, I was really pleased with how we played tonight,” Garnet Valley head coach Greg Wood said. “We got out of system midway through the third set, but really, this game was a tough draw for both teams tonight. You had two top centers in the state in this game.

That would be Garnet Valley senior Rachel Cain and Emmaus’ Caroline Bond. The Jaguars, the District 1 4A runner-up, got 41 assists, two digs, three aces and two kills from Cain, an East Stroudsburg commit.

“Rachel set beautifully tonight, did a good job of getting us in system,” Wood said.

The victory boosted the Jaguars’ record to 20-3. Two of the losses were to Bishop Shanahan, the second one in the District 1 Class 4A championship final.

The Garnet Valley attack was punctuated Tuesday night by kills from seniors Ally Hartney (18 kills, two blocks, three aces, hit .593) and Emma Rokosky (14 kills, six digs, two aces, hit .520).

“Ally has been fantastic,” Wood said. “She’s hit .500 for us all year, has been in double digits for kills and blocks.”

The Jaguars also received tough defense Tuesday night from Rowan-bound senior Julia Bowes (28 digs) and senior Gwen Clark (six digs, four kills).

“Julia played outstanding defense across the board today,” Wood said.

Another Garnet Valley senior, Alana Hagerty, contributed five kills and two digs.

With the victory, Garnet Valley advances to the state quarterfinals to play the winner of Tuesday night’s first-round matchup between District 3 champion Cumberland Valley and District 1 fifth-place finisher West Chester Rustin.

“No matter who we play next, it won’t be easy,” said Wood, whose team had captured the 2016 state title and lost 3-2 to eventual state champion North Allegheny in the state semifinals last year. “In our last two state tournament runs, we faced a total of 14 state champions.”

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Garnet Valley volleyball players celebrate their win in the second game against Emmaus in PIAA playoff action at Upper Dublin High Tuesday. The Jaguars went on to a 3-0 win.

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Garnet Valley’s Rachel Cain sets a ball in the first game of what became a3-0 Jaguars victory over Emmaus in a PIAA Class4A tourney opener at Upper Dublin High Tuesday.

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Garnet Valley’s Dolce Whitwell, left, Gwen Clark, middle and Ally Hartney celebrate a point in the Jaguars’ first game of their PIAA playoff win over Emmaus.