Fountain, Millard North Flip Script in Upset of Marian in Metro Semifinals

PAPILLION – You know those thrilling movies that keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time and just when you think you know how it’s going to end – BAM – the script is flipped and you’re…

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Ya, Wednesday night’s Metro Conference semifinal between top-seeded Omaha Marian and #5-seed Millard North was one of those.

After Omaha Marian fought off four match points in the second set, it was Millard North that fought off three match points in the third set to claim a 26-24, 27-29, 26-24 victory over the Crusaders in one of the most epic high school matches you’ll ever see.

With Millard North leading 15-13 in the third set, Creighton recruit Emily Bressman took over for Marian as the junior outside hitter had two straight kills to tie it at 15-15. Bressman later got another kill to tie it at 21-21 then added another kill, a solo block and yet another kill to put the Crusaders up 24-21.

Millard North sophomore outside hitter Eve Fountain got a kill to fend off one match point and the Crusaders were then called for a double contact to make it 24-23.

On the next rally, it looked like Bressman was going to drop the hammer for the final time on the Mustangs as she soared in towards the net on an attack, but Millard North middle Emmy Grant and setter Izzy Lukens got enough of a block-touch on it for Lukens to turn around and take an easy pass and set it outside for Fountain, who delivered a kill for the Mustangs to tie it 24-24.

Fountain tooled a Crusader block for another kill that gave Millard North its fifth match point of the evening and the Mustangs closed it out when a Marian attack sailed wide.

The win over Omaha Marian was the first in four tries this year for the defending Class A champions and broke the Crusaders’ 28-match win streak. The win also put Millard North into the championship match against #3-seed Papillion-LaVista, which defeated #2-seed Millard West 25-19, 25-17. Papillion-LaVista has won all three matches this year against Millard North.

Fountain finished the match with 11 kills for the Mustangs while Paige Holdsworth had 10. McKenna Ruch and Allie Kerns each had seven kills while Madison Evans had 16 digs and Megan Hanson and Emma Altman each had nine. Lukens finished with 40 assists and five kills.

Bressman finished with 14 kills for the Crusaders and Hailey Zuroske had 11 and Lauren Isenberg added seven.

Metro Conference Tournament

Thursday’s Schedule (all matches at Papillion-LaVista High School)

5 p.m. – Papillion-LaVista South vs. Elkhorn South (aux. gym)

5 p.m. – Omaha Westside vs. Omaha Burke (main gym)

6:15 p.m. – Millard North vs. Papillion-LaVista (main gym)

Championship Quarterfinals

Marian over Bell West 25-8, 25-18

Millard North over PL-South 25-13, 25-19

Millard West over Millard South 25-18, 25-15

Papillion La Vista over Elk South 25-14, 25-20

Championship Semifinals