Bobcats Down Lions For D9-1A Girls Volleyball Championship

on 2 November, 2024 at 07:42

Photos courtesy of Maria Wilson – 2024 District Nine Class-1A Girls Volleyball Champion Clarion Area Bobcats – Front (from left) Maddy Schill, Aubrey Leonard, Lacey Lauer, Emily O’Toole, Eve Gilmore, Juliet Diehl. (Back) Coach Campbell, Kara Wilson, Natalie Durish, Hadlee Campbell, Sophie Babington, Alicyn Burford, Marley Kline, Alivia Diehl, Anna O’Toole, Addiwyn Campbell, Coach Durish, Coach Beichner.

The Clarion Area Bobcats downed the Clarion-Limestone Lions in straight sets in the District Nine Class-1A Girls Volleyball Championship match, at Penn West Clarion’s Tippin Gymnasium on Thursday, October 31st.

The Bobcats won the first set 25-18. The teams played a marathon second set, with Clarion coming out on top 32-30. The Bobcats then clinched the championship with a 23-20 win in set three.

Marley Kline had a huge match for Clarion, delivering 21 kills, 8 digs and one service point. Adi Campbell scored 14 points on serve, while handing out 42 assists, gathering 8 digs and delivering on a kill. Hadlee Campbell contributed 16 kills, an assist, 4 service points (1 ace) and seven digs.

Natalie Durish registered 7 points on serve, 14 digs and three assists. Anna O’Toole scored 13 service points and and had a dig. Sophie Babington delivered on 9 digs, 3 service points and two kills.

Alivia Diehl had 4 kills and Ali Burford had two kills and a dig.

The Clarion Area Bobcats earned their spot in the final by defeating homestanding Elk County Catholic in the District Nine Class-A semifinals in five sets (19-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-15, 15-7, over the defending D9 and Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) State champion Crusaders, on Tuesday (October 29th).

**Bobcats celebrate the Championship with the Student Section.**

Clarion Area Head Coach Shari Campbell was very pleased with the Bobcats play. “I am very proud of this team and feel they are making a lot of great growth at the right time. Our playoff path through the district gave us some great competition and we benefited from that.

“Winning the 2024 district championship was definitely a team effort. Our serving was key and Addiwyn Campbell and Anna O’Toole contributed greatly from the service line.

“Natalie Durish had an outstanding night passing the ball for our offense and she had big defensive plays as well. It allowed Addiwyn to find our hitters in great matchups to score. Sophie Babington had 9 digs and defended the right side of the court well, which C-L is prone to attack. Both our middles, Alivia Diehl and Ali Burford played the net well which helped contain C-L’s offense.

“And, our outside hitters, Hadlee Campbell and Marley Kline, stepped up in all aspects of the game. They took the big swings our offense needed, played defense to transition us back into offense, and both served 100%.
Our team appreciated the support from a great student section and we are proud to represent our school as district champions. We are excited to host the first round of the PIAA playoffs at home on Tuesday night (November 5th) at 6:00 pm. We will play Eden Christian Academy.

(Congratulations on the District Title Bobcats!!!! And all the best to Clarion and Clarion-Limestone in the PIAA State playoffs!!!! Thanks to Maria Wilson for her photos!!)