Piqua Daily Call
Monday, November 20, 2006

Charger Spikers Second
Edison beats defending champs

By: Rob Kiser 

The Edison Community College volleyball “national” tour ended right where it began back in August….in the parking lot outside the Convocation and Student Center after an escort from the Piqua Fire Department down Main Street Sunday.

But, what a whirlwind of excitement has taken place since the Lady Chargers made their return to the volleyball court, after a two-year absence.

Edison was returning from Rochester, Minn., after finishing as the NJCAA Division III national runner-up on Saturday.

“It is pretty exciting,” Jessica Girod, who along with Roshelle Watercutter, was named to the all-tournament team.  “I really don’t think you could expect this.”

It was exactly what Edison athletic director Chip Hare had visualized….though he never could have visualized this level of success, this quick.

“We wanted to give girls the chance to compete at the college level,” Hare said.  “We had had eight girls (Mindy Pearson was already at Edison) who made the decision to come here and play volleyball.  I believe this area is a hotbed for volleyball and this just goes to prove it.”

Freshman, Elizabeth Schulze from Russia is prime example of what Hare is talking about.  “Defiantly, I never expected anything like this,” Schulze said, “We all just get along so well.  We all came together.  We spend so much time off the court and I really think that helped us on the court.”

Sophomore Mindy Pearson (Versailles) and freshmen Laura Deaton (Piqua), Claire Frantz (Lehman), Jessica Girod (Houston), Janell Houck (Fairlawn), Elizabeth Schulze (Russia), Natasha Selle (Piqua), Nicki Spilizewski (Miami East), and Roshelle Watercutter (Lehman) combined to take the program places no one ever could have imagined.

            “Look where this team has been,” Hare said.”  They made a trip to Maryland for the regional final…they made a trip to Rochester, Minnesota, for the nationals.  That’s pretty amazing.  And they are such a great representative of the community and have made everyone proud.”

            Carrie Snider, assisted by Brooks Hines, led the team to an amazing season.

            “I think they just all get along so well,” Snider said.  “They have a great chemistry.”

            Pearson, explained that further.  “To be honest, I would have been happy with a winning season,” Pearson said, after playing on Edison’s first team that went 5-36.  “ Who could anticipate coming home as national runner-up?  I think the thing about it is we are all from small towns and we just got along so well.  We spend a lot of time together on and off the court.”

            And the Lady Chargers were on a mission this weekend.

            “I really think we were confident,” Deaton said.  “ I think this is just incredible.  The match against Brookhaven.  That was the match of the year.”

            Deaton is referring to Saturday’s semifinal match.  After going 2-1 in pool play Friday at the national tournament, the Lady Chargers defeated two-time defending national champion Brookhaven, Texas in the semifinals Saturday….in three straight games by scores of 30-24, 30-20, 30-22.

            “That was our match of the year,” Pearson said.  “ That was unbelievable.  And to beat them in three straight games….I thought if we did beat them, it would be a long match.  I remember thinking before the match that if we lost, we would still be playing for medals in the third-place match.  It would be OK.”

            It turned out to be more than OK after the Chargers stunning victory, that set off quite a celebration.

            “All the parents were going wild,” Girod said.  “We were all so excited.  All of us were bawling (in joy) after that one.”

            Even Snider was amazed.  “ We had watched them play on Friday,” she said.  “I knew they were going to be tough to beat. To think after playing three matches Friday, we were going to come back Saturday and beat them three straight games, I never would have thought that.”

            It was tough to come back from that emotional high in the title match a few hours later, when Edison lost to Ridgewater 30-21, 30-25, 30-22.

            “We played hard, but Ridgewater is a great team,” Snider said.  “One of the things that was said was we had eight freshman.  Those are going to be eight sophomores next year, so there are going to be really big expectations.”

            For now, Hare can savor a memorable trip to Minnesota.  “I just spent five days with them,” Hare said.  “ Those girls had me laughing from the time I got in the car until the time I got out on the return trip.”

            And Hare also came home with some hardware that completed their “National” tour.