Sports
New Lothrop volleyball wins second straight regional
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Wednesday, November 19, 2008 10:34 AM EST
LANSING - A year after losing out in the state quarterfinals, New Lothrop earned a return ticket back to the Elite Eight in Class D.
In a rematch of last year's regional championship battle, the No. 4-ranked Hornets turned back Muskegon West Michigan Christian 25-21, 25-13, 20-25, 25-20 Thursday at Lansing Christian School. The Hornets beat WMC in three games last fall at Morrice.
The next challenge for New Lothrop is the No. 1-ranked team in Class D, defending state champion Battle Creek St. Philip, which defeated No. 3 Athens 23-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-18 at Coloma to earn a berth in the quarterfinals.
New Lothrop and St. Philip will square off Tuesday at Beal City High School at 7 p.m. with the winner advancing to the state semifinals Thursday at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek.
A year ago, the Hornets fell to McBain Northern Michigan Christian in a five-game heartbreaker. The Hornets led 2 games to 1 at one point but the unranked Comets pulled the upset by winning the final two games 26-24, 15-12.
It left a sour taste in the mouths of the Hornets for the last 12 months. That painful, tearful loss has been the inspiration of making it back again to the same place they were a year ago.
“I would say not only have we been talking about it (going back to the quarters) but preparing for it,” said New Lothrop coach Sheri Warner. “This summer when the kids were in doing their workouts, they talked about how some kids are spending their summer at the lake. They said they're spending their summer in the gym trying to get back to the 'Creek.”
Rachelle Kviz, a 5-foot-5 junior, who had a team-high 17 kills with 13 digs in the victory over Muskegon Western Michigan Christian, said Thursday's win was a year in the making.
“Ever since (losing last year to McBain),” said Kviz. “You look back and it's like. ‘We don't ever want to feel like that again.' When that last ball fell it felt horrible. And we don't want to be in that position again.”
Monica Confer, the tallest Hornet on the roster at 5-8, delivered 16 kills, 14 digs, three aces and one block Thursday. She said the team is looking to surpass last year's achievements.
“It's a relief to be going back but now we just want it even more,” said Confer. “We didn't get it last year so this year we're definitely going for it hard.”
New Lothrop rose to 41-13-5 with Thursday's victory. The Hornets lowered Muskegon West Michigan Christian to 26-10-3.
The Hornets, also getting 12 kills and 17 digs from Kelsey Gasper and 46 assists, 10 digs and three kills from Kayla Henige, broke a 13-13 tie in game one with Henige's tip kill. The Hornets then took a 17-13 lead on a long Warriors' spike and a pair of kills by Confer.
New Lothrop went on to win the first game 25-21 as the final two Warriors' serves sailed long.
In game two, the Hornets dominated from start to finish, building leads of 13-6 and 20-9. Kviz powered the final point in a 25-13 victory.
Muskegon West Michigan Christian led most of the third game. The Hornets pulled to within 19-18, but the Warriors took advantage of some serving and hitting mistakes by the Hornets to win 25-20.
Paige Henige's kill to the deep corner gave the Hornets a good start in game four. Back-to-back spikes by Gasper made it 9-3 New Lothrop and the team never looked back.
The Warriors pulled to within 20-19 but Gasper tipped the ball over two West Michigan Christian defenders in front of Henige's two-handed tip to make it 22-19. The Hornets captured the final point on a 25-20 victory when the Warriors could not return a volley.
Warner said she expects a war with St. Philip (58-7-5) Tuesday.
“Well, we know they're going to be very tough,” said Warner. “They are the defending Class D state champions. We know this next game we're going to have to fight hard. Right now, we're going to take a few minutes and enjoy this regional championship win and re-group and prepare again for Tuesday night.”