Cardinals defeat Hornets in conference battle

by Angie Asam–Staff Writer

Tuesday the Onaway varsity volleyball team traveled to Pellston. Both teams entered the match 4-0 in Ski Valley Conference play, but only one would leave 5-0. The Cardinals won game one 25-23 and lost the second 22-25 to tie the match at one a piece.

 

Onaway took game three 25-20 but lost game four 24-26, match tied at two. In a decisive fifth game the Cardinals pulled out the 15-12 win to remain unbeaten in the conference.

Only one game of the match was decided by more than three points and the entire match score would have been Onaway 111 and Pellston 106.

“There were a lot of long rallies in the match. It was a huge game for us. It was a super close hard-fought win featuring two teams that really wanted to win. I was glad we came through when we had to,” said coach Steve Watson.

In the match the Cardinals set a new school record for attacks in a match (207) and digs in a match 157.

Senior outside hitter Lexi Szymoniak also set a new school record for attacks in a match with 87, shattering the old record of 61. Szymoniak also had 21 kills in the match, good for second all-time in the record books. She also added 43 digs.

Sophomore setter Taylor Ehrke had 37 assists and 20 digs in the match. Jade Galer added eight kills and 30 digs while Ashley LaLonde had 23 digs.

Elise Arkwood had seven kills and 22 digs and Morganne Badgero had six kills and 15 digs.

SATURDAY THE Cardinals were at the St. Ignace Invitational. Onaway split with Sault Ste. Marie 25-22 and 21-25 to start the day. They then defeated Cedarville (25-20, 25-11), St. Ignace (25-18, 25-18) and Bellaire (25-22, 25-17) to finish first in their pool.

In the semifinals they took on Engadine and won 25-9 and 25-19 to move into the finals.

In the fi

nals the Cardinals would see a familiar foe, the Cheboygan Chiefs. The two teams would face each other for a fifth time, all five being hard-fought matches. Once again the Chiefs got the better of the Cardinals. Onaway won game one 25-17 before dropping game two 13-25 and three 15-17.

Szymoniak had 47 kills, nine aces and 86 digs on the day. Ehrke had 11 kills, 84 assists, seven aces and 46 digs.

Coach Watson said Arkwood and Badgero had a real good day for his team on the net as middle hitters. Arkwood finished with 18 kills, five aces and 40 digs while Badgero had 22 kills, three aces and 61 digs.

The Cardinals host their home invitational this Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. The tournament will feature eight teams.