Breaking Down the Division 4 Semifinals
The Division 4 semifinals were both straight-up battles. It was fun to watch the grit and determination as teams fought for their lives in the state tournament. Playing at the Resch is its own form of pressure, with fans bussed…
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Continue ReadingThe Division 4 semifinals were both straight-up battles. It was fun to watch the grit and determination as teams fought for their lives in the state tournament. Playing at the Resch is its own form of pressure, with fans bussed in and a huge arena.
On one side was Clear Lake against Newman. Although Clear Lake won in straight sets, Newman Catholic did not make it easy. On Newman’s side, junior setter Stevie Samuels showed her experience. She seemed to be everywhere at once. Stevie was scrappy and could make a playable set out of nothing. Lauren Shields had an impact on the court whether she was in the front row or back. She has a fast snap and was great on defense as well. Libero Angela Rougeot-Donath was all over the court, causing some frustration for Clear Lake.
Clear Lake came out with the win. Their biggest asset? The team’s ability to build on momentum even after making mistakes. Their momentum built throughout the match and they never let down. Junior middle hitter Maddie Rosen was a key player on Clear Lake’s side. She was a powerhouse and racked up quite a few kills. Her great plays kept the momentum building for the Warriors. Senior Madison Zimmer led the court as a setter. She kept the momentum fast and didn’t miss a beat. Senior Maggie Rosen was very effective on the outside. She has a great vertical and used it to her advantage, seeing the court very well and putting down balls.
Catholic Central and Hillsboro faced off for their own ride to the State Championships. At the beginning of the match, Hillsboro seemed a bit timid but found their momentum at the end of the second game and went on to win the third set. Though they fell in four sets it was an intense matchup and great to watch. Hillsboro works great as a team and is fluid on the court. Freshman Toni Mitchell led the team as a setter and had a lot of hustle. Middle hitter Molly Crandall was very effective, seeing the court well and making big plays. Another freshman, Lily Von Falkenstein had a huge impact on the game as a pin hitter. She adjusts well to every play.
Catholic Central came out ready to win, and they did just that. Junior setter Ella Shaw has a lot of control and runs the offense well. She connected with fellow junior outside hitter Sammie Sieb who was putting down balls from the front row and the back row. She has a very fast arm swing and is very controlled on serve receive. Libero Grace Antlfinger set the team up for success from the back row. She has a solid serve and reads the defense well.
It was a great morning of volleyball. Catholic Central and Clear Lake will be battling it out tomorrow for the State Championship. All of the teams played incredibly tough. Congratulations to all athletes who had the opportunity to compete this weekend.