Click here for the link for the story from the Patriot News (good Job David Bohr).

Monday October 26th Mechanicsburg High School-  The Rams made it three in a row with another road victory at Mechanicsburg to open the Mid Penn Playoffs.  The Rams won 3-0 in 2007, 3-1 in 2008 but it went over the limit last night as the Rams won 3-2 staving off three match points along the way to claim victory.  The 5 game match went to over time (20-25, 23-25, 26-24, 25-20, 18-16) in the 5th set as the Rams found the way to get the last two points to advance to the Mid Penn Semi Finals on Wednesday at Cumberland Valley.

The Rams are looking forward to facing the #1 CV Eagles on Wednesday with the big prize on the line, a Mid penn #1 or #2 seed to districts and avoiding having to take the court on Saturday in the District three play in round.  "We pushed back against the neighborhood bully on Saturday at the NA tournament" said Coach JB.  The Rams beat CV 25-17 and lost 23-25 in pool play at North Allegheny.  "The girls now know for sure we can not only hang with them but also beat them, Wednesday should be very close and I would not want to be playing us right now".  The Rams will be hoping to pull the big upset in the semi finals like the CV Eagles did to them last year.  CV came in after upsetting then #2 Cedar Cliff in the opening round.  The Eagles were the #5 from commonwealth which was really the #8 seed in the 8 team tournament.  CV went on to down CD 3-2 and then take out Carlisle to win the Mid penn tournament.  The Rams will be looking to return the favor on the Eagles own floor.

CD staved off three match points in the match on Monday.  Match point #1 was in game three but a service error from the Wildcats and two straight big serves including an ace on game point by Regina Kimmel (Jr, L) gave the Rams the game and new life in the match.  The Rams won game 4 going away to set up the deciding 5th game.  The Rams got out to nice lead at 5-1 and 6-2 before the Wildcat block tied the match.  4 blocks of the Rams outside hitters brought the match even.  "Emily Frazier had a big match for them and we knew she was going too" said Coach JB after the match.  "We were just hoping to slow her down a little bit and limit the rest of their team and I thought we did a job in the end".  "Frazier is one of the top players in the Mid Penn and we had total respect for her, I'm just glad we found the way".

April Brown (So, OH) had a career high in kills in her biggest match of the year with 27 big ones to help lead the Rams to victory.  Brown was also solid in the back row leading the team with digs (31) and had a great night in the pass pattern.  "April was just incredible, i'm glad she is on our team" said Coach JB.  The final two points saw an Ashley Johnston (Sr, MB) block for a kill and then she teamed up with the Ram's other senior, Melissa Dorsey (Sr, OH) for a double block kill on a Wildcat hitter for the clinching point.

However the best performance was turned in by the Ram's setter, Allie Donahue (So, S).  The Wildcats called timed out at 16-17 in the 5th game with Allie going back to serve.  "I asked her for an ace and she gave me a smile and I knew she was going to go for it".  Donahue went back and sent a pin point serve over the net that was not passed cleanly by the Wildcats, a scramble play insued with the Rams getting the double block for the win. Allie has lead a quickly improving Ram squad the last couple weeks flawlessly and she continues to get better with each game played.

The loss sends the Wildcats to Central Dauphin on Wednesday for the 5/6/7/8 matches starting at 5:30.  Mechanicsburg takes on Coloinal rival Red Land while Cedar Cliff takes on Carlisle in the other match.

See this page for the info on the Mid Penn Championships being held at CV on Wednesday at 5:30.