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Hawks snatch prize from Tigers' claws
West Tisbury claims volleyball crown
The Martha's Vineyard interscholastic volleyball league finalists, Tisbury and West Tisbury, conquerors of Oak Bluffs and Edgartown in the semi-finals, met on the Vineyard Haven court, Monday, to decide Island bragging rights.
Tisbury had already defeated West Tisbury twice during the season. Indeed, the 4-2 Hawks only losses were to the Tigers.
Tisbury entered the finals with a 5-1 season record and a playoff semi-final victory over Edgartown, the team that had handed them their only loss during the season.
In game one of the finals Tisbury ran up a 23-11 lead, then watched as Kyp Cooperrider's net-skimmng overhand drives came within two of tying the score. The final count was Tisbury 25, West Tisbury 23.
Game two wasn't close. The Tigers cruised to a 25-10 win.
Rafael Maciel and Ryan Fisher were a formidable one-two punch for the Tigers.
The third game was an overtime match. With Jacob Lawrence serving, WesTiz rose to a 17-9 advantage, but Tisbury met the challenge and tied the game at 24. The Hawks prevailed in OT stemming the Tisbury tide, 27-25.
The Hawks seemed to have found their stride and methodically moved to a 24-20 lead in game four, only to see Tisbury run off four points, even the count, and send the contest into another OT. But it was Cooperrider's turn to serve and the Hawks quickly claimed a 26-24 win.
The fifth and deciding game would be abbreviated to 15 points. No one seems to know why, but that is one of the game's many new rules.
Tisbury won the serve but could not cash the check.
Cooperrider was up for the Hawks, but drove his second smash into the net. Having won the last two games, WesTiz could smell a third and held Tisbury to single-point possessions, earning an 11-5 lead. Rafael Maciel, who had demonstrated outstanding athleticism throughout, served up five points to draw the Tigers within one of the Hawks, 10-11. After that, neither team could manage a run. The score crept to a conclusion. At the end it was Colby Gouldrup who served the Hawk's final and winning point. West Tisbury won the game, 15 - 12, and with it the 2007 Martha's Vineyard Volleyball Championship.
Martha's Vineyard Regional High School hockey teams begin their seasons
Girls find sledding tough
Sam Sherman's troops, the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School girls varsity ice hockey team, opened their season at the Kennedy Arena, Hyannis, against the 2006-07 Division II State champions, Barnstable, Wednesday. The Red Raiders won, 4-3.
Barnstable posted the first goal on the board at 6:19 of the first period with a goal by Abby VanWarmer. The Islanders had their chances with three power plays in the period but were unable to take advantage.
Click photo for larger version.
Barnstable's Kristan Logan scored a second goal at 3:54 of the second frame. Christina Wiley converted a pass from Alexa Fisher, putting the Vineyard on the board at 9:07 but Raider Tori Snow made it 3-1 with 21 seconds left in the period.
Michelle Manning exploited a 5-3 power play to score the Raiders' fourth, ultimately its winning goal early in the final period. Nica Sylvia, assisted by Angel Casey and Gillian O'Callaghan, made it 4-2. Then, with nine seconds on the clock and the goalie pulled in favor of an extra skater, Alexa Fisher found the back of the Barnstable net assisted by Cristina Wiley and Nica Sylvia.
The Vineyard girls home opener at the Arena was Saturday at 1 pm versus a very physical Pembroke/ Whitman-Hanson team.
The Islanders had their chances in the first period when the Titans were called for four infractions, but they could manage only one shot on goal. Pembroke took nine shots on goal and scored at the 10-minute mark.
The Titans scored three times in the second period, the last time while they were short-handed.
The Islanders (0-2) were home to Falmouth yesterday.
Boys edge Quincy
It figured to be close. Hockey Night In Boston News, the bible of Bay State high school hockey, awarded the Vineyard varsity a 13th rank in the list of Division II top 20 teams. Quincy was ranked 16th.
The Islanders scored twice in the first period and made that stand up to beat the Presidents at the Arena, Saturday, 2-1.
Nick Billingham broke the ice assisted by Darren Gazaille and Tad Gold at 7:45. The Islanders had little time to enjoy their lead as Quincy's Zack McCaul put the Presidents on the board just nine seconds later. But Gazaille's goal with 21 seconds left in the period put the Vineyard ahead to stay, 2-1. Riley Dobel and Chris Davies were credited with assists.
Martha's Vineyard took 13 shots on goal in the first 15 minutes, to Quincy's 5. The rest of the game was an even affair with
Goalies Alex Minnehan for the Vineyard and Jeff Gordan for Quincy anchoring effective defensive crews.
Yesterday the Islanders (1-0-1) were at Franklin, the second-ranked team in Division II (behind Coyle-Cassidy.)
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