Foran falls to Guilford in SCC quarterfinals

Written by Mike Suppe, Assistant Sports Editor
Tuesday, 03 November 2009 14:55

The Foran High girls volleyball team qualified for the Southern Connecticut Conference tournament for the first time since joining the league in 2004 by winning 16 of 18 regular-season matches.

Twice the Lions defeated SCC Hammonasset rivals Guilford High during the season and the two teams met again in the quarterfinals of the SCC tournament on Monday afternoon in Milford.

Round three went to the fifth-seeded Indians, who upset the fourth-seeded Lions in three games at Edna Fraser Gymnasium to punch their tickets to the semifinals on Nov. 5.

“They were better than us today,” Foran coach Julie Johnson said. “Guilford played a great game.”

Guilford (15-4) posted victories of 25-23, 25-15 and 35-33 in an epic third game.

With the Lions desperately trying to rally, the teams engaged in a back-and-forth battle that culminated when Foran failed to return an Indian serve.

Foran (16-3) fought out off six match-points, while Guilford fended off five game-points.

Jenna Bellantoni staked the Indians to a 24-22 edge in the third game, before Genna Savoca staved off elimination with a dig that Guilford’s MaKenxi Gennette slammed into the net.

The Lions’ Melissa Manning’s tip and Christina Lapenna’s kill gave Foran a 25-24 lead, before Gennette tied it up with a push shot into the middle of the Lion defense.

After a hitting error on Foran, Manning tied it back up with another tip shot.

Some stellar Indian defense, followed by a net infraction on Foran put Guilford back on top, 27-26.

The Lions regained a 29-28 margin on Nicole Weichner’s kill, but Guilford middle hitter Anne Snedegar tied it with a block.

Caroline Snedegar gave the Indians a 30-29 lead with a kill before the Lions’ Carli Matrisian came through with a game-saving point.

Another tip from Manning provided Foran with another game-point, but Gennette ripped a kill to tie it back up.

A stuff shot at the net gave the Lions another one-point cushion, 32-31.

This time, Guilford pulled even on a Bellantoni kill, but Foran’s Annie Raucci beat the Indian defense with a shot down the line.

Trailing 33-32, Guilford ran off the next three points, keyed by a block from Anne Snedegar and a kill from Bellantoni, to claim the victory.

In the second game, Guilford led 8-7 and pulled away with a 7-0 run on the service of sophomore Meg Goodrich.

A block by Gennette ignited the Indians, who capitalized on some Foran hitting errors.

Guilford attacked every free ball and its return shots seemed to find the floor between the Lion defense.

Genette and Anne Snedegar also gave Foran fits in the middle, as the Indians extended their advantage to 24-15 until a Lion service error ended it.

The Guilford duo also factored into the first game, with the Indians rallying for the 25-23 win.

Foran led 15-9, but the Indians stormed back behind Anne Snedegar to tie it at 17.

The score held until 22-22, when a Foran miss hit gave Guilford its first lead of the game.

An against-the-grain shot by Anne Snedegar put the Indians on top, 24-22, before the Lions got a brief reprieve after a Guilford service error.

Game point came when Anne Snedegar powered a kill through Lapenna’s block at the net.

The Lions will now set their sights on the state tournament, which begins on Nov. 7.

Foran will be seeded either third or fourth overall in Class L.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Johnson said. “It’s the first time we’re going to states since I got here. Hopefully my girls will come to play.”