Mercy takes its spot atop D1 with four-set win over Lowell
It’s been a long time coming for the Mercy volleyball program, but the Marlins can finally state that they are the best. The top-ranked Marlins fought off a game Lowell team on Saturday in the Division 1 final to take…
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Continue ReadingIt’s been a long time coming for the Mercy volleyball program, but the Marlins can finally state that they are the best.
The top-ranked Marlins fought off a game Lowell team on Saturday in the Division 1 final to take the state championship in four sets, 25-21, 25-12, 23-25, 26-24.
“We’ve worked so hard throughout this season and seasons leading up to this. I truly believe 100% that we deserved this trophy,” Mercy senior outside hitter Jess Mruzik said. “Lowell played amazing. They are an amazing team and they played out of their minds, but I just think in the end, we’ve been working so hard. We’ve had this goal since the beginning of the season and even two years ago when we lost here.”
After dropping the first two sets, Lowell (55-4) wasn’t far from pushing the Marlins (58-1) to a fifth set. The Red Arrows grinded out the third and them found themselves tied 23-3 in the fourth.
Jess MruzikMruzik would give Mercy championship point with her 32nd kill of the match, but the Red Arrows blocked her attempt to win the title on the next point, tying the set at 24-24. Mruzik, the 2019 Miss Volleyball winner, would show her championship pedigree by coming back with a power shot to put Mercy up 25-24 and then a tip kill on the final point to give the Marlins the title.
“As a senior, that’s probably the best feeling. I mean that’s how you want to end your high school career, with a state championship,” Mruzik said. “Not everybody is fortunate enough to be in this position, but this is how you want it to end.”
A sweep looked like it might take place as Mercy scored 17 of the final 18 points of the second set to go up 2-0, but the Red Arrows showed their fight that got them to the final by making the Marlins have to earn it.
“These girls just play together and fight. We fight for every point. There’s not a point that we are going to give up, so they just responded,” Lowell coach Jordan Drake said. “We talked in the huddle and we wanted to go five with them. We weren’t going to back down from them. We knew they were going to get their big kills, but it was just about bouncing back and finding a way to keep grinding it out.”
Jenna ReitsmaJenna Reitsma closed out her tremendous 2019 MHSAA season by leading Lowell with 22 kills and 12 digs. Senior Meghan Meyer also had a strong game with 17 kills while hitting .324. Junior setter Sophia Powell tallied 40 assists while junior libero Emma Hall put up 13 digs.
Lowell can learn from Mercy’s previous shortcomings at Battle Creek. The Red Arrows were making their first appearance in the state finals this weekend, but will return a lot from this 2019 squad for the 2020 season. The Arrows lose four seniors, but those seniors changed the culture of the program and got to play in front of a packed house at Kellogg Arena for their effort.
“I think it’s phenomenal for our program and our community,” Drake said of Saturday’s atmosphere. “I mean, the crowd, the students are amazing. Getting that type of following speaks volumes to these girls and the community members they are, getting that backing. It’s definitely a step in the right direction with this program.”
Mruzik finished her career with a 34-kill performance on Saturday. She hit .377 while adding 15 digs. Junior Julia Bishop had 54 assists while junior Ellie Tisko had 14 kills and sophomore libero Amina Robinson had 22 digs.
Along with the program earning its first title, veteran Mercy coach Loretta Vogel also earned her first title as a coach.
“This is 43 years, okay, working at this a long time. been here many times, but never receiving this final part of the game,” Vogel said. “It’s just a dream come true.”
The Marlins are likely to be a top contender next year. While losing three seniors, headlined by Mruik, they will return a veteran group in 2020.