DUBOIS - DUBOIS - All good things usually end but the ending for Redbank Valley was a surprising conclusion as the Lady Bulldogs couldn't match their season-long performance standard and were ousted from the PIAA Class A volleyball tournament in three games by the West Branch Lady Warriors at DuBois High School on Nov. 10.
Seemingly on a roll after storming through the District 9 playoffs without losing a game, Redbank captured its first-even district championship and advanced to the first round of the state tournament with a perfect 23-0 record. Matched up with West Branch, the second-place team from District 6, the Lady Bulldogs looked to keep their unbeaten season alive and move on to the state quarterfinals at Central York High School.
While it appeared that Redbank performed below its season-long level of proficiency, a stronger case can be made for how well West Branch played as the Lady Warriors wouldn't allow the Lady Bulldogs to get anything going with an all-around superior performance. Redbank never had a lead in the match, it's longest point streak was three and it didn't serve for more than five points in any of the three games as West Branch rolled to a 25-12, 25-17, 25-17 victory in the opening-round pairing.

CURWENSVILLE - A more favorable outcome on several situations in the final four minutes of the first half could have put Redbank Valley in a more competitive posture as the Bulldogs faced the Curwensville Golden Tide in the opening round of the District 9 Class A playoffs on Friday at Riverside Park in Curwensville.
Trailing 8-0 late in the second quarter, Redbank intercepted a Curwensville pass to snuff out a Tide drive in Bulldog territory but gave the ball right back by fumbling on the next play. Cashing in on the turnover, Curwensville notched its second touchdown of the period for a 15-0 lead and then stopped the Bulldogs on the Tide one after Redbank failed to convert after having a first-and-goal from the seven as the first half ended.
Instead of a much closer contest, Curwensville owned a 15-0 halftime advantage and then its only two pass completions of the game went for TDs in the third period as the Tide opened up a 30-0 lead. Breaking up the shutout, the Bulldogs scored early in the fourth quarter but Curwensville posted a 30-8 victory to eliminate Redbank from the postseason tournament.