Traverse City Record-Eagle

Volleyball

November 13, 2009

Volleyball Roundup: Pellston takes title

FROM STAFF REPORTS

ONAWAY -- For the third year in a row, the Pellston volleyball team hoisted the Class D regional championship trophy.

The Hornets (47-7-8) defeated Ski Valley rival Johannesburg-Lewiston 25-7, 25-18, 25-22 on Thursday at Onaway to advance to the quarterfinals and move one step closer to a possible repeat visit to the Kellogg Arena. The Hornets made it to the Final Four last year, losing to Lutheran Westland in the semifinals.

Pellston will now meet Hancock, a four-game winner over Crystal Falls Forest Park, in the quarterfinals Tuesday at St. Ignace.

Game-one jitters affected the Cardinals (42-15-8), who were playing in the regionals for only the second time in school history. After losing by a lopsided margin in the first game, they rebounded to make games two and three very competitive.

"As the match was wearing on, they were getting more acclimated to the game," Pellston coach Tim McNitt said. "They were just nervous in Game One."

Game three was tied 20-20 when Pellston McNitt called a timeout and warned his girls that Johannesburg was only five points away from forcing game four and gaining a lot of momentum. The Hornets, sparked all night by the strong play of outside hitter Katie Dzedzie and middle hitters Kristi Lewis and Tayler Friend, outscored the Cardinals 5-2 the rest of the way to secure the sweep and the trophy.

Dzedzie finished with 17 kills, five aces and 29 digs to lead Pellston in all three categories. Lewis and Friend each had seven kills. Chelsea Bonter had 28 assists and 14 digs, Samantha McNitt had 12 digs and 13 assists while Rachel Hutto added 10 digs.

Joburg outside hitter Mary Schlicher and Melissa Carroll notched kills and middle hitter Amanda Head had a block in game three as Johannesburg rallied from a 17-13 deficit to take a 19-17 lead. Setter Liz Thick had four aces in the match.

CLASS C AT CHARLEVOIX

McBain 3
Charlevoix 0

McBain took a three-set match from Charlevoix in a Class C regional final the Rayders hosted.

The Ramblers won 26-24, 25-21, 25-22.

Charlevoix ends the season 42-19-2 and returns four starters next season, including all-state setter Jenna Way.

The Rayders were led on Thursday by Way (15 assists, three aces, 14 digs), Allison Hankins (six kills,), Sarah Potter (five kills, 13 digs), Isis Hang (four kills, 13 digs), Katie Mays (four kills) Taylor Storm (17 digs) and Kelly Greyerbiehl (11 digs).

McBain will play the winner of Iron Mountain and Calumet in Tuesday's quarterfinal at Newberry.

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