D2 semifinal recap: North Branch, NDP overcome injuries, advance

<p>Following Saturday’s Division 2 state final, both North Branch and Notre Dame Prep are more likely to be heading to a doctor’s office than Disney World.</p> <p>Both the Broncos and the Irish pieced together their squad in Friday’s semifinals at Kellogg Arena and found a way to come through with victories.</p> <p>No. 1 Notre Dame Prep dethroned three-time defending D2 champs, second-ranked Grand Rapids Christian 25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 25-16. No. 9 North Branch then followed it up with a 27-25, 24-26, 25-22, 28-26 win over No. 3 Lakewood.</p> <p>With each dealing with major injuries to their roster, they will battle it out for the Division 2 title on Saturday at 4 p.m., with both seeking their fourth state title in program history.</p> <p>Here’s how each managed to advance.</p> <h4><strong>Notre Dame Prep over Grand Rapids Christian 25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 25-16</strong></h4> [caption id="attachment_166200" align="alignright" width="259"]<img class="wp-image-166200 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/11/NDP-vs-GRC-VB-29-259x300.jpg" alt="" width="259" height="300" /> [player_tooltip player_id="24844" first="Alyssa" last="Borellis"][/caption] <p>The Irish improved to an impressive 63-1 on the season with the win over the Eagles.</p> <p>It was a team effort, as it always seems to be with the Irish. The squad of nine seniors rallied together to fight off a persistent Eagles’ squad.</p> <p>Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="24844" first="Alyssa" last="Borellis"]</strong>, who was in her second match back after missing a month with a dislocated thumb, put up 26 kills, 23 assists and 11 digs to lead the Irish in the win.</p> <p>“We just push so hard now that it’s just like injuries are temporary, but winning (a state title) is forever,” Borellis said. “I think all of us just came together to push through because we are all seniors and this is our last chance. We just want to make sure there are no regrets.”</p> <p>Fellow senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137573" first="Sophia" last="Sudzina"]</strong> suffered a sprained ankle last Sunday, but battled through the pain to record 12 kills for NDP. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="24857" first="Bianca" last="Giglio"]</strong> added 17 kills while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="24842" first="Josie" last="Bloom"] </strong>had 24 digs to lead the defense.</p> <p>Setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66331" first="Margo" last="Sudzina"]</strong>, who suffered a dislocated shoulder earlier in the season, added 29 assists and 19 digs.</p> <p>Grand Rapids Christian kept with the Irish for most of the match, but NDP made just a few less errors during the key points.</p> <p>Still, it was a standout performance for <strong>Evie Doezema</strong>, who put up 29 kills with 14 digs to lead the Eagles. Setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="151377" first="Alyssa" last="DeVries"] </strong>added 39 assists, 12 digs and six kills. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="110324" first="Grace" last="Spoelma"] </strong>had 15 digs, while <strong>Kate Breems </strong>added nine kills.</p> <h4><strong>North Branch over Lakewood 27-25, 24-26, 25-22, 28-26</strong></h4> [caption id="attachment_166201" align="alignright" width="235"]<img class="wp-image-166201 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/11/NB-9-Alana-Deshetsky-3-235x300.jpg" alt="" width="235" height="300" /> [player_tooltip player_id="110291" first="Alana" last="Deshetsky"][/caption] <p>North Branch coach Jim Fish couldn’t fight back the tears.</p> <p>The 22-year coach of the Broncos has seen a lot of wins, but none quite like what he saw Friday night.</p> <p>With kill leader <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="110291" first="Alana" last="Deshetsky"] </strong>playing through a torn meniscus, lone senior <strong>Gracie Hyde</strong> fighting through a hamstring injury that hampered her movement, and sophomore middle <strong>Kaela Chingwa</strong> taking a nasty fall during the match that left her hobbled, the Broncos still found a way to get past Lakewood in four sets.</p> <p>“I’ve been coaching a long time and that’s the gutsiest win I think I have seen,” Fish said. “I’ve been part of three state championships, but I don’t think I’ve been part of a team that had to gut it out like this. That was just incredible.”</p> <p>The final point was a perfect example of North Branch’s toughness, as junior outside <strong>Bailey Gormley </strong>crashed her body into the barricades in front of the media table to keep the point alive and eventually aid the Broncos in winning the match.</p> <p>Lakewood seemed well on its way to forcing a fifth set, as the Vikings led 21-11 and North Branch looked to be running out of steam. But, a balanced offensive attack set off a ferocious comeback that the Vikings couldn’t fend off.</p> <p>Deshetsky still managed to lead North Branch in kills with 11, while adding 20 digs.</p> <p>“That’s a championship performance. She doesn’t have to be playing. She’s going to have to have surgery and the doctors told her that if she could handle the pain she can play and she wouldn’t let us take her out,” Fish said of his sophomore outside hitter.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="110302" first="Adrienne" last="Greschaw"] </strong>was a standout with her setting, recording 40 assists while getting four North Branch hitters with eight kills or more. <strong>Natasha Bickel </strong>had 10, while Gormley had nine and <strong>Clara Gyomory </strong>had eight.</p> <p>Libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="110301" first="Hailey" last="Green"] </strong>had 19 digs, while Hyde and Greschaw each had 12.</p> <p>Lakewood was led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="24871" first="Maradith" last="O’Gorman"]</strong>, who was stellar in her final prep outing. She put down 27 kills and added 16 digs for the Vikings, who were without third-year setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66296" first="Skylar" last="Bump"]</strong> for the match.</p> <p><strong>Abby Pickard </strong>stepped up at setter and had 38 assists with 13 digs, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="110318" first="Carley" last="Piercefield"] </strong>had 17 digs to lead the defense. <strong>Alivia Everitt </strong>added seven kills.</p>