1995.
It was the year the WTO was created. The Pentium Pro was the computer of choice, peace finally came to Bosnia. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened in Cleveland. Gas was $1.09 a gallon, OJ Simpson was acquitted, Toy Story was one of the top movies and the Smashing Pumpkins were ruling the charts.
What does 1995 that have in common with the Shoregals volleyball team? It was the last time they enjoyed success on the courts such as they have this season. On Thursday night, the dream year continued as they took home the district championship with a 3-2 win over rival Amherst, who ironically were the two time defending district champions.
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And the way they did it was absolutely stunning. Down, 2-0, Avon Lake dug deep and came up with a 24-26, 18-25, 25-12, 25-17 and 15-8 win over the Comets Oct. 27.
Should the way the varsity squad, that has two sophomores, Katie Mihalik and also Lauren Bakaitis, five juniors (Whitney Craigo, Christine Bohan, Isabelle Wagner, Taylor Leube and Kathleen Durisek) and five seniors (Danielle Donelan, Erin Kearns, Heather Smith, Rachel Janicek and Sarah Alflen) have won be any surprise?
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The answer to that is not at all. This is a team that has traditionally started slow in games, something coach Dan Berkheimer says he isn't particularly happy with, but is also a team that all season long for the most part has found a way to overcome the deficit via teamwork.
"We work hard together as a team," Katie Mihalik said.
While Shoremen coach Dan Berkheimer says the team never talks about stats, there were a number of players who stood out against Amherst. Isabelle Wagner had a number of key aces, Christine Bohan was tough on the nets and Craigo was stellar with her 54 assists. Heather Smith had at least 20 digs. And Mihalik, for being one of the youths of the team, played like a seasoned veteran and had eight blocks on the night.
But again, it was the unselfish efforts that helped propel the Shoregals into regional play.
The final game said it all. With everything on the line, and Avon Lake trailing to start the match, they did what they did all year and rallied to take home the win. The Shoregals defense was more than up to the task and each member played a role in the win.
The Shoregals are also just one of three programs from Northeast Ohio (Magnificat and North Royalton) to have cracked the states top ranked.
The Southwestern Conference Champions also beat North Olmsted, Westlake and Olmsted Falls in the Sectionals and Districts on the way to their team goal of the State Finals on Nov. 11 at University of Dayton. Next stop for Avon Lake is Norwalk High School for regional action, game begins at 6 p.m.
Pre sale tickets are available at the high school for $6. The Shoregals will play the winner of the Toledo Central Catholic- Toledo St. Ursala game, which will be played Oct. 29 in Perrysburg. Should they advance, the regional final will be against either Magnificat or Medina, who play right after the Shoregals on Nov. 2.