SMCC outlasts Schoolcraft in five-set classic for D3 title
It lived up to the billing. No. 1 Schoolcraft and No. 2 St. Mary Catholic Central met up for the Division 3 state championship at Kellogg Arena on Saturday and put on an instant classic. Alternating each of the first…
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Continue ReadingIt lived up to the billing.
No. 1 Schoolcraft and No. 2 St. Mary Catholic Central met up for the Division 3 state championship at Kellogg Arena on Saturday and put on an instant classic. Alternating each of the first four sets, SMCC ultimately came away with the fifth set and the championship, winning the match 25-27, 25-21, 19-25, 25-18, 15-12.
“Being here last year and going through a five-set loss really fueled us to come back here. I just think having that experience to play in that gym with those lights and the fans, just helped us,” SMCC coach Karen O’Brien said of what made the difference in the match. “We wanted this from day one. We knew this was our goal to be here.”
The contest was played at a high level throughout with long rallies, athletic digs and powerful attacks. Not much separated the two teams, but it was the Kestrels that scored the final four points of the match to take a 12-11 deficit to a 15-12 victory.
Mikayla Haut recorded her 27th and final kill of the match to tie things up at 12-12 and then Abbie Costlow followed up with an ace to give the Kestrels the lead. After an attack error by Schoolcraft, SMCC closed out the match with a block from Samantha Michael and Kylie Barron.
“I think we played a great game. If we play them again, maybe we beat them in five. I think matchup goes more sets than three every single time,” Schoolcraft coach Erin Onken said. “We have a ton of respect for them. We knew it was going to be tough. We prepared for a dogfight. I thought we came out ready to battle.”
The first set was similar to the fifth, as the two teams found themselves tied 25-25 before junior Maggie Morris record a block to give the Eagles set point. Andelyn Simkins, the Miss Volleyball runner-up, then put the set away with a kill from the back row.
Now a six-time championship program, the Kestrels weren’t shaken by dropping the opening set. They controlled the second game throughout and evened things up with a 25-21 victory.
Things remained competitive in the third set, but Schoolcraft was able to pull away late thanks to Simkins. She had seven kills in the set Eagles the 25-19 victory.
The Kestrels would respond again in the fourth, jumping on an early lead that built to a 23-14 advantage before finishing things at 25-18.
“All along we just had to play like Kestrel volleyball. Along the way, we got a little unfocused and it was just a reminder to play like us,” O’Brien said.
Anna SchuppelSimkins finished with 28 kills and 23 digs to lead the Eagles in the win while Anna Schuppel had 13 kills. Morris finished with nine kills while Kayla Onken had 53 assists and 15 digs. Kelby Goldschmeding had 21 digs and Allie Goldschmeding added 16.
Haut had 24 digs to go with her 27 kills to lead the Kestrels. Anna Dean added 12 kills while Jaydin Nowak and Payton Osborne each had 24 digs. Costlow finished with nine kills while Grace Lipford and Sarah Reicker combined for 50 assists.
The Kestrels were all sporting “tattoos” on their wrists with a logo to remind them of what was driving them throughout the season.
“We have a saying and we have tattoos (that mean) allow your faith to be stronger than your fears,” O’Brien said. “Last year, when we were here, the fears got the best of us. The tattoo is just a reminder to have faith, not only in God, but in the players and the coaches and the program. It was really just a reminder of that.”
O’Brien used the logo as motivation during her third bout of ovarian cancer, which she has been dealing with throughout the season.
“I don’t want to do anything but coach them when I am going through treatment, because it is something I can look forward to and can leave cancer behind,” she said.
SMCC will graduate four from this championship squad, but returns a strong core, led by Haut.
Schoolcraft will graduate four as well, including Simkins.