BOARDMAN - There wasn't much else that Hubbard Eagles volleyball coach Chuck Montgomery could do but applaud the effort of Salem senior Amy Scullion.
Scullion had just finished a performance worthy of one of the top players in Ohio. As a result, the Eagles' undefeated season came to an end with a 3-1 loss in the Division II district final Oct. 29 before a large crowd at Boardman High School.
Montgomery couldn't stop talking about Scullion.
"Amy dominates," he said. "Back row front row. She scores from all over. You see what she does hitting the ball. She's a phenomenal defensive player. We hit shots in the first game when we were down 23-21 that I thought Jackie (Carlisle) had down, and she (Scullion) brought them up and they converted them into points."
The Quakers won the first game, 26-24. The Eagles took game two, 25-16, and the Quakers won game three, 25-20, and game four, 25-18.
Scullion, who will play basketball next season at Ohio State University, finished with 23 kills. Perhaps as important were the 19 digs she recorded.
Salem coach Don Conser has directed the Quakers' program for 33 seasons. He marvels when talking about Scullion.
"Amy is probably the best all-around player that I've ever had," Conser said. "She can play the front court and the back court. She mixes coaching when she's out there, too, because she helps the other girls where their weaknesses are and where they need to be. She's just a complete player."
The Eagles, who finished with a 23-1 record, had a 24-22 lead in the first game and were on the verge of gaining initial momentum. The Quakers, however, rallied to secure the next four points.
The Eagles played a strong second game to even the score, but the Quakers grabbed the upper hand early in the third game and didn't let up. Hubbard had a four-point run midway through the game to cut Salem's lead to 14-13, but the Quakers were able to take the lead into the fourth game.
Salem scored the first three points of the fourth game. Hubbard registered the next three points before the Quakers steadily pulled away. Three close line calls on spikes by the Quakers went in their favor.
"What are you going to do?" Montgomery said. "They could be out or they could be in. Tonight was their night. I'm not saying that was the difference. You need a little luck here and there."
Carlisle, a talented senior outside hitter, had 30 kills in finishing her high-school career. Senior setter Marcy Angelo had 46 assists, and Dawn Lingenfelter had 13 digs.
No matter what the Eagles offered up, Conser was confident that the Quakers would prevail.
"I wasn't nervous all day, which is highly unusual for me," Conser said. "The feeling said, 'Don't worry. It's okay. You're going to win.' "
Montgomery now must look ahead to another season, which probably seems a long ways off.
"We have to move on," Montgomery said. "It was a fun night. What a crowd."
Just about everyone enjoyed the night, most notably the Quakers.