Final All-Thumb Recap of 2019
(Photo Cred: Paul Adams of Huron County View Sports) This past week area teams finished off what was a wild season! Much like the current NCAA Division 1 college volleyball scene, there was quite a bit of parody. All of…
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Continue Reading(Photo Cred: Paul Adams of Huron County View Sports)
This past week area teams finished off what was a wild season! Much like the current NCAA Division 1 college volleyball scene, there was quite a bit of parody. All of this made for one heck of a season to behold in the thumb.
Here’s your FINAL weekly All-Thumb recap.
Unionville-Sebewaing Does It Again
The Patriots of Unionville-Sebewaing have been a powerhouse program for the entirety of the 2010 decade. Don’t believe me? Well, how’s winning your ninth conference title in ten years sound? Yes, in what looked to be a rare off-season for Teresa Rose‘s program, they knew better. In what better fashion to defend their reign than in two back-to-back five-set barn burners. The Lady Pats went this distance this week to cap off another incredible regular season.
When visiting the Hatchets of Bad Axe, USA came out red hot in the first set scoring 25-9. Soon, they found themselves with their backs to the wall and fists up fighting for a fifth set, down 1-2 in the fourth. They just barely scathed by, winning 25-23 before taking the entire match in the fifth, 15-8. A match of epic proportions, a team that seemed dead on arrival versus one that came out big to begin the season. Grace Williamson was huge in the thriller, posting 17 kills on 50 attempts while picking up 15 digs.
In a rescheduled match at Reese the next day, it was another epic night. Reese came into the match with fire under them after losing a five-setter the night prior at Cass City. The Rockets shot out and once again USA saw themselves down 1-2 going into the fourth. They would rally the final two sets and claim their ninth outright title in ten years. Coming in clutch in career-high performances were both Allyson Kemp and Williamson. Kemp’s arm was barely intact once all was done, Kemp put down a career-high 27 kills on 98 swings! Williamson wasn’t far behind her teammate, with a career-high, 20 kills of her own. The duo was dynamite and combined for an efficient .274 hitting percentage. Williamson also notched five blocks in the affair.
Adding to the fun, Maci Montgomery was rock-solid this week posting 40 digs and received at a high 81% rate on 53 attempts. Sophomore setter Kylie Bohn ran her offense well, averaging 11 assists per set over the course of the two five-set matches.
Harbor Beach Finishes Undefeated
Another sweep to close out the season in a road-match against Memphis. Harbor Beach threw every weapon they had at the Yellowjackets and to great effect. Seven players in orange and black got in on the attacking fun and as a team, the Pirates hit for a wicked .397. Usually quiet and deadly, libero Claire Woodke made a statement in Tuesday’s match. She had her hand in every cookie jar she could with three kills, four aces, an assist, and seven digs. If liberos were allowed at the net, you bet she would have had a block in there as well. Jenna Guza was money in the match offensively as well with seven kills of her own on only 10 swings!
Other Impressive Performances
Haven Bouverette, Jr, OH, Cass City – Haven Bouverette seldom used throughout the course of the season, due to Cass City’s prowess in the middle, was impressive in the season finale versus Reese. Used sparingly in the first two sets of the match, she came alive posting 8 of her 12 kills in the following three sets. Bouverette was also lights out in her service reception committing zero errors on 18 receptions.
Grace Schlaud, Jr, OH, Brown City – Grace Schlaud has been the heartbeat of the Green Devil squad all season. Her all-around game and attacking abilities are superb. This week between a Cros-Lex hosted quad and a sweep of Sandusky, Schlaud terminated 41 kills. In the quad alone, Schlaud added on 19 digs and four aces.