Minford Falls in Regional 
Semifinals to Tuscarawas

(from the Portsmouth Daily Times, on November 3, 2000)
Chuck Greenslate

    While everyone would like to win their final game of  the year, only a minority get the chance.

    Minford's volleyball team fell into the most common but more unfortunate category, as the Falcons wrapped up their 2000 campaign with 15-3, 15-8 loss to Tuscarawas Valley at the Division III Regional Semifinals in Logan Thursday.

    However, the bright spot for Coach Arnold King and his Falcons is that they had the privilege of playing a few more games than most.

    "To finish the season 20-7 and as district champs with an opportunity to come up here and play, it's good experience for the girls, and we're pleased,"  King said.  "But we would've certainly have liked to move on."

    According to King, his troops primary problem Thursday was merely the team they were playing.
    "I would have to say they're probably the best fundamental team we've seen,"  King said of the Trojans.  "They run a lot of quick sets and hits.  You don't see a lot of that in Southern Ohio, and they did that really well.

    "They're a team that year in and year out visit this regional up here, so this is not new for them.  It was kind of a new experience for me as a second year coach and for a lot of our young kids."

    Minford had a difficult time with it's serve reception, especially when Tuscarawas Valley's Allison Goudy and Emily Clark were the ones doing the serving.

    "Allison Goudy's our top scorer,"  Trojans coach Jen Lauber said.  "She's just done an excellent job.  She's a junior, and so is Clark.  And Clark has a floater serve that's pretty tough to receive."

    Goudy and Clark led Tuscarawas Valley, as they served up 14 points apiece.

    While Minford's offense had some difficulty putting points on the board, it did receive a pick-me-up from Amanda Porter and Mandy Miller.

    In addition to posting three kills, Porter served up a team-best five points, while Miller went 10-for-12 hitting with a Falcon-high four kills.

    "Mandy has improved all year,"  King said of the Minford sophomore.  "She's probably improved her all-around game from her freshman to her sophomore year.  Mandy stays positive.  Mandy works hard in practice, and I'm pleased when things go well for her in a game.  She deserves to do well."

    The Falcons' Andrea King added a kill to her team's effort, as she went 4-of-6 hitting.

    "I thought we played well in the districts,"  Coach Kind said.  "We just came up here tonight.  Hopefully, we can take this back to Minford with us and work on it."

    "Next year, with all of our young kids coming back, maybe we can come back here and get another opportunity at the regional."