Farmington sweeps Indians in final

~ The Jackson volleyball team beat Central to reach the championship match.

Jackson senior Megan Spooler knew how close her Indians squad was to bringing home its first district title since 2002.

She could almost taste it.

"I wanted it real bad. I had dreams about it all week," Spooler said. "I was real nervous for this game. We really thought we had it this year."

But for Spooler and other five Jackson seniors, dreaming about a district title is as far as they will ever come to experiencing one.

Jackson's Jill Rushin spiked against Farmington in the first game of the championship Wednesday night at Central High School. (Fred Lynch)

With Farmington one point away from victory Wednesday night, its offense smashed a shot that deflected backward off the hands of an Indians defender. Spooler hustled all way back, chasing it down and diving to keep it in and keep her team's title hopes alive.

But her attempt failed.

"I just couldn't believe that it went down like that," Spooler said. "I ran as fast as I ever could in my life. Laying on the floor was the worse way to hear that we lost."

The No. 2 seeded Indians were swept by the No. 1 seeded Black Knights in the Class 4 District 1 championship game, 25-23, 25-23. Jackson ended its season 20-9-1.

Jackson had a difficult time defending the hard hitting Farmington offense, which was led by Cassie Garcilaso with 12 kills, Holly Russell with eight kills and setter Ashley Jenson, who had 22 assists.

Jackson's Cassandra Bollinger returned a shot during Wednesday's district title match against Farmington.

Jackson defeated rival Central earlier Wednesday evening in three games -- 25-19, 22-25, 25-20 -- to earn a berth in the championship match.

Central finished its season 20-10-3, winning 20 games for the first time in school history.

Jackson coach Maile Gannon felt her team was put in a difficult position when it had to play a championship match at 8 p.m. after playing a 6:30 p.m. semifinal.

"I think it's definitely a disadvantage," Gannon said. "Any time we play Cape Central, it's an emotional match. And for us to turn around in 20 minutes and get ready for a championship match in district play, I think it's very unfair for any team.

"It makes it extremely difficult for anyone lower than the No. 1 seed to take a championship."

Farmington's semifinal was at 5 p.m. Gannon said the Black Knights were able to then sit around, rest and watch Jackson defeat Central.

Russell said watching Jackson helped her team prepare.

"I knew since watching them play Cape Central that they were really quick so we knew we needed to be quick, too," Russell said. "When we saw they were quick, we knew where to go and take their quickness back at them.

"When we go up against people like that who are good, we need to play even better so if we just pound the ball at them they can't get it."

Chelsea Dale had six kills, five digs and two blocks while Chelsea Olson had 16 assists and eight digs in the losing effort.

Spooler had an impressive first match against Central, leading her team to victory with eight kills and 15 digs. She said she was somewhat tired after playing three games against the Tigers.

"I was a little worn down but I was really excited to win against Cape again," Spooler said. "It got me pumped up for this game, and I was ready for it."

Spooler, who began playing volleyball when she was in eighth grade, said she does not plan on playing in college. She said she will miss the connection she formed with her teammates, especially the other five seniors. All six have been playing together since the eighth grade.

"They became my best friends over the years," Spooler said. "I would have never become friends with those girls if we had never played volleyball together."

As for the Central Tigers, coach Charity Huff said her team got down five points early in the third game to Jackson and it was difficult to overcome.

"I think we get in our holes and we just let it go and we wait too long and they're up by the time we're playing back with them," Central's Wendi Zickfield said. "I think we're going to take the pain we felt tonight in losing to Jackson and we're going to try to put that on to next year and build off of this season. We've got the highest record we've ever had and we're going to build and push and win it next year."