Volleyball Roundup: Pellston in semis

FROM STAFF REPORTS

November 19, 2008 12:00 am

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PELLSTON -- For the first time in five years, Pellston is heading to the state volleyball semifinals.

The Hornets served up some revenge to Crystal Falls Forest Park at home Tuesday with a 25-14, 25-19, 25-23 win in the Class D state semifinal.

Pellston (46-8-6) will now play Lutheran Westland (45-5-5) at 2 p.m. Friday in the state semifinal. Battle Creek St. Phillip and Bay City All Saints will follow in the other side of the draw.

"This is very exciting," Pellston coach Tim McNitt said. "The girls earned it. They went out and took it to team, after team, after team all season. It's been five years since I've experienced it and only the second time (we've been there) as a team."

A year ago, the Trojans won a straight-set quarterfinal match over Pellston, who returned the favor this season.

"They had the exact team I was expecting," McNitt said. "They were extremely hard servers and they dug up a lot of plays. The difference this year was experience. I had seven girls step on the floor that played in that quarterfinal last year. And now, they have a true believe that they're going to win."

Katie Dzedzie had 17 kills, a block, 21 digs and an ace for Pellston, Rachel Hutto had 38 assists, four blocks and 14 digs while Kara Pavlisin had seven kills, six blocks and nine digs.

Other contributors for the Hornets included Nicole Madigan with 10 kills, three aces on perfect serving and 25 digs, Amanda Friend had 13 digs, Emily Maglothin had six digs, Kristi Lewis had two blocks and Mackenzie Myers had six digs.

CLASS B

Fruitport 3
Petoskey 0

Petoskey's first trip to the state quarterfinals ended abruptly Tuesday as Fruitport won 25-15, 25-12, 25-16 at Big Rapids.

Fruitport will play North Branch in the Class B semifinal Thursday.

Petoskey finished the season 38-9-3.

CLASS D

Bay City All Saints 3
TC Christian 0

The season came to an end for Traverse City Christian Tuesday as Bay City All Saints swept the Sabres out of the Class D quarterfinal.

The Cougars (17-19-4) will play Battle Creek St. Phillip Friday in Battle Creek for the state semifinal.

TC Christian (40-14-8) made a comeback in all three sets Tuesday, but couldn't finish any of them off. All Saints won 26-24, 25-19, 25-23.

"Yeah, we're crying, but we made history this season," Sabres coach Russ Hansen said. "The kids played awesome and never quit."

Hansen said senior middle hitter Joni Yahr had what may have been the best night of her career leading TC Christian with 11 kills, a block, three digs and a perfect night serving.

Lindsay Kostrzewa was perfect serving with six kills, four blocks and four aces, Kara Romstadt had 19 assists, Jenna Finney had eight digs, Meghan Terpstra had six digs, Bethanie Hansen added three digs while Arielle Kanitz and Callie Kostrzewa each had two kills.