GORHAM — It looked like the same old scene Saturday afternoon, with Greely celebrating another state volleyball title.

But the Rangers´ three-game sweep of Falmouth was not so easy.

Perhaps the score said everything about this budding volleyball rivalry. Greely needed to grind out the first two games by 26-24 scores, coming back in the second game from a 24-21 deficit.

Then in the third game, the Rangers demonstrated the dominance they´ve enjoyed in this sport, pulling away for a 25-17 win to capture the Class A title, Greely´s seventh straight championship.

"That was a good one, the way volleyball should be played," Greely Coach Kelvin Hasch said.

Hasch called Falmouth´s emergence this season "awesome for the sport." The Yachtsmen (14-2) and Rangers (15-1) split two games in the regular season, with Falmouth beating Greely in the first match -- a dramatic, five-game contest.

On Saturday, in front of a large and vocal gathering at Gorham High, Hasch said his team came out "with super focus."

The first game was a dandy. No team led by more than three points. There were seven lead changes and 13 ties.

"I love playing Falmouth," Greely hitter Erin Cadigan said. "They´re a great team and that makes it so much fun."

Cadigan delivered on five of her 15 kills in the first game. Both teams showed crisp passing, with setters Karlee Biskup (Greely) and Emma Wilberg (Falmouth) delivering.

Greely´s Abby Rivers also made some nice sets, and the hitters battled. Cadigan and Michaela Campbell were Greely´s primary spikers, but the Ranger substituted often, bringing more and more power to the net.

"We worked a way to work our big girls in there," Hasch said. "Different kids picked us up."

Among those picking up Greely were Holly Banister, Maggie Bradley, Mary Zambello and Michelle Poulin.

Falmouth brought some of its own power, led by hitters Alyssa Young and Kate Sparks. Alana Becker, Laura Fay and Carolyn Smith also made key plays at the net. Maggie Bruen converted some key service winners.

In the first game, Falmouth led 22-21 when Greely grabbed three straight points -- a Banister spike, a Falmouth net violation and a block by Banister and Cadigan.

The Yachtsmen tied it at 24 with two straight points, including a Sparks spike.

But Falmouth´s next spike was out, and Greely won the game on Campbell´s spike after a hustling save by Bradley.

The second game was more streaky. Falmouth led 5-1, Greely led 14-9, and then the Yachtsmen looked in control, 24-21.

Falmouth was working the ball well, quarterbacked by Wilberg. She dished off accurately and sometimes surprised Greely with quick hits of her own.

Greely called two timeouts during the Yachtsmen´s streaks and settled down.

"I just took a deep breath and said we need to win this game," Cadigan said.

She wasn´t kidding. Greely won the game with five straight points -- one on a block by Biskup and Banister, the other four on Cadigan spikes.

"Once she starts hitting those, she´s unstoppable," said Biskup, who kept feeding Cadigan.

In the third game, Greely was never behind. Down 17-6, Falmouth rallied to trail, 19-16.

But the Rangers kept coming. After a service into the net by Falmouth, Greely scored with two Emily Sampson service winners, a Biskup dink, a Poulin stuff and a Campbell spike, finishing the match.

"Things just weren´t flowing for us," Falmouth Coach Gary Powers said. "We had a couple of service errors and you can´t do that against a team like Greely.

"They capitalized on every mistake and they made very few mistakes."

Greely will have to reload next year. The Rangers started five seniors, including Claire Sawyer, and one junior, Sara Warnock. Falmouth graduates Wilberg, Young, Smith and Bruen.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:
kthomas@pressherald.com