3A State Championship: Western Christian vs. Cherokee

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thursday was filled with the best of the best in each class battling for a state title. These teams have worked incredibly hard all season long and have made it to the very end. In this matchup we have #1 Western Christian, who is coming in with more height and is very offensive. Going up against them is #6 Cherokee, who managed to upset #3 Dike-New Hartford and #2 MOC-Floyd to get themselves in the championship. This was a super intense and fun matchup to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">SET 1</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cherokee comes into the first set with a hot start and takes a 4 point lead. <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/ellana-mortensen/" data-type="players" data-id="831703">[player_tooltip player_id='831703' first='Ellana' last='Mortensen']</a> is a major contributor early on, but it doesn't take long for Western Christian to find their footing. Both teams are going point to point with a lot of hitters finding their groove early on. <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/addy-wolfswinkel/" data-type="players" data-id="574225">[player_tooltip player_id='574225' first='Addy' last='Wolfswinkel']</a>, <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/ellana-mortensen/" data-type="players" data-id="831703">[player_tooltip player_id='831703' first='Ellana' last='Mortensen']</a>, and <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/deidra-doeden-2/" data-type="players" data-id="493982">[player_tooltip player_id='493982' first='Deidra' last='Doeden']</a> come alive for the Braves while <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/maddyn-dejager/" data-type="players" data-id="775968">[player_tooltip player_id='775968' first='Maddyn' last='DeJager']</a> &amp; <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/josie-hall/" data-type="players" data-id="1053499">[player_tooltip player_id='1053499' first='Josie' last='Hall']</a> get it going gor the Wolfpack. Western Christian is starting to pull away nearing the end of set 1, causing Cherokee calls a timeout (16-19). Cherokee finds some fire coming out of the timeout and gets within 2, forcing Western to call a time out (21-19). The Wolfpack tightens up after their timeout and quickly gets to set point. Doeden tools the block and keeps the Braves alive. But <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/morgan-kooiman-2/" data-type="players" data-id="781456">[player_tooltip player_id='781456' first='Morgan' last='Kooiman']</a> answers right back and puts the ball away, giving set 1 to Western (25-20). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">SET 2</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Western Christian is feeling good after the first set, and after a few messy calls in favor of Western, Cherokee finds themselves a little out of sorts and has to call an early timeout (1-7). Western Christian comes out of the timeout and puts up 4 more points on the board before Cherokee manages to put the ball away and then follows up with a monster block. Both sides are playing phenomenal defense and although there are a lot of amazing things are coming from the Braves, they can't seem to get into a groove, giving the Wolfpack a huge lead in the second set. Cherokee's defense is amazing, but they can't seem to find any way to score against Western and they started to make too many unforced errors. Cherokee calls their second timeout (6-20) and come out of the timeout and gets a few more points. However, the Wolfpack doesn't let up and ends up coming out with the second set with ease (25-12).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">SET 3</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We started set 3 strong, with Mortenson getting multiple, strong back to back digs. The Braves' defense was looking very good, but their offense couldn't seem to score and were making a lot of unforced errors. The Braves are rattled and call an early timeout (1-5). They come out of the timeout with a great kill from [player_tooltip player_id='493982' first='Deidra' last='Doeden']. <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/ireland-kennedy-3/" data-type="players" data-id="918847">[player_tooltip player_id='918847' first='Ireland' last='Kennedy']</a> &amp; <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/addy-wolfswinkel/" data-type="players" data-id="574225">[player_tooltip player_id='574225' first='Addy' last='Wolfswinkel']</a> get some fantastic digs to keep the Braves alive. Cherokee slowly starts to work their way back into the set, but Western Christian is working hard to keep the Brave's runs to a minimum and maintain their lead. <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/emma-ohlendorf/" data-type="players" data-id="831970">[player_tooltip player_id='831970' first='Emma' last='Ohlendorf']</a> is starting to find her groove at the net and Doeden goes back and gets an ace, bringing Cherokee within one point. Braves tie the game and forces Western calls a timeout (15-15). Wolfswinkel makes a sneaky play at the net and gives Cherokee the lead. Mahren Malausky goes and gets 2 aces of her own, giving Cherokee a 4 point lead and makes Western call their second timeout (15-19). The Wolfpack comes out of the timeout ready to close out the set, going on a 4 point run to tie the match and force Cherokee to call a timeout (19-19). Western Christian misses their serve after the timeout and Cherokee is the first to 20, but Western answers right back after and then takes the lead. Ohlendorf comes up with a big kill for the Braves and tied it again. Mortenson makes a show stopping save and the Braves take the lead again. Cherokee scores again and is 2 points away from a set victory, but Western Christian is wokring hard to try and come back and close out the match in 3. After a long rally the Wolfpack scores and ties it at 23 all. Cherokee finds the floor and is one point away from taking the set, but Western takes the next point and ties it again. Kooiman takes a powerful swing to give the Wolfpack game point. Western Christian manages to get the next point and takes down the Braves in the 3rd set (26-24).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Stat Leaders:</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Kills:</em></strong> <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/morgan-kooiman-2/" data-type="players" data-id="781456">[player_tooltip player_id='781456' first='Morgan' last='Kooiman']</a> (Western)- 17 kills, <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/maddyn-dejager/" data-type="players" data-id="775968">[player_tooltip player_id='775968' first='Maddyn' last='DeJager']</a> (Western)- 14 kills, <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/deidra-doeden-2/" data-type="players" data-id="493982">[player_tooltip player_id='493982' first='Deidra' last='Doeden']</a> (Cherokee)- 12 kills</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Digs:</em></strong> <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/ellana-mortensen/" data-type="players" data-id="831703">[player_tooltip player_id='831703' first='Ellana' last='Mortensen']</a> (Cherokee)- 14 digs, [player_tooltip player_id='918847' first='Ireland' last='Kennedy'] (Cherokee) &amp; <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/breslyn-kooima/" data-type="players" data-id="741262">[player_tooltip player_id='741262' first='Breslyn' last='Kooima']</a> (Western)- 13 digs, <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/maddyn-dejager/" data-type="players" data-id="775968">[player_tooltip player_id='775968' first='Maddyn' last='DeJager']</a> (Western)- 12 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Assists:</em></strong> <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/hadley-dekkers/" data-type="players" data-id="741260">[player_tooltip player_id='741260' first='Hadley' last='Dekkers']</a> (Western)- 38 assists &amp; Mahren Malausky (Cherokee)- 17 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Blocks:</em></strong> [player_tooltip player_id='493982' first='Deidra' last='Doeden'] (Cherokee)- 6 blocks &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='574225' first='Addy' last='Wolfswinkel'] (Cherokee)- 4 blocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Aces:</em></strong> <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/josie-hall/" data-type="players" data-id="1053499">[player_tooltip player_id='1053499' first='Josie' last='Hall']</a> (Western)- 3 aces, [player_tooltip player_id='775968' first='Maddyn' last='DeJager'] (Western) &amp; Mahren Malausky (Cherokee)- 2 aces</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->