Cardinal volleyball shakes up Rogers City

It was a tremendous effort by the Onaway volleyball team Wednesday at Rogers City, one that didn?t go in the win column, but hopefully will go a long way in boosting the team?s confidence.

After a poor start against Rogers City, who is considered a northern Michigan volleyball power, the Cards snapped out of an early funk and gave the Hurons a run for their money. After going up two games to one, and trailing Rogers City late in game four by only two points, Onaway just couldn?t finish them off.

Game five, which would go to the first team to score 15, was tied at four-all before Rogers City pulled away. The Cards kept it close, and were within three points, 13-10 late in the deciding contest, but could not land that decisive blow. The Cards trailed 21-19 and had the serve, but ended up getting outscored 4-1 down the stretch.

The Hurons have a well-established volleyball program. They have been to the state finals a number of times the past couple of decades, and claimed a state championship in the mid 1980s. Watson said he wouldn?t have a problem swallowing this loss, if he can take a bigger bite out of Rogers City at the district tournament.

WHAT WAS impressing is, no matter how many shots Rogers City took at Onaway, the Cards never seemed deterred. They easil

y could have folded up their tents and called it a night after trailing by close to double digits in that first game.

The girls turned the game around to make things interesting, and from there, the years of Onaway playing doormat to Rogers City in volleyball almost seemed to have been wiped from the record books and everyone?s memory.

Wednesday?s match was about Onaway coming close to pulling off an upset, and Rogers City fighting for their lives.

It could, if the girls build on this, be considered an awakening for Onaway volleyball. It definitely was a wake up call for Rogers City.

For Cardinal players, who played with a lot of heart, they are hoping Rogers City misses the call the next time around. In between now and then, Onaway should shake up a few more volleyball programs. They certainly rattled Rogers City?s cage.