Onaway, RC volleyball teams see first action of season

August 27, 2015August 27, 2015 Editor featured

by Angie Asam–Staff Writer

Volleyball season started for the Onaway Cardinals and Rogers City Hurons varsity volleyball teams over the weekend and both teams had a good showing to start the season.

Onaway finished second at the Pellston Invitational falling to Cheboygan. The Cardinals won the first game 25-23 before falling 12-25 and 8-15 to finish second. “I thought we would have an OK day and come out of there with one or two wins. To finish the day with a 5-1 record and make the finals for the third time in four years I was really happy, very pleased. Going in I didn’t think we were where we needed to be and we have a lot of youth on the floor but they stepped up,” said coach Steve Watson.

Coming out of their pool with a 4-0 record the Cardinals had the number-one seed and got a bye in the quarterfinal round. In the semifinals they defeated Charlevoix 25-17 and 16-24 to make the final a battle of the number-one seeds.

THE ONAWAY Cardinals started off the 2015 season finishing as the runner-ups at the Pellston Invitational Saturday. Seniors on this year’s team are front, Jade Galer. Middle from left are McKenzie Kohloff-Parr and Tori March. Back from left are Elisha Ionetz and Elena Domke. (Photo by Peter Jakey)

The tournament featured 10 teams divided into two pools of five teams. In the opening match of the season the Cardinals defeated Harbor Light 25-12 and 25-7.

Onaway is ranked No. 10 in Class D in the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association (MIVCA) preseason rankings. In the second match of the day they took on No. 7 ranked Bay City All Saints and won 25-18 before dropping game two 23-25 but won the final game 15-10 to take the match.

The Cardinals then defeated conference foe Central Lake 25-17, 22-25 and 15-9 and Charlevoix 25-18 and 25-22 to finish pool play 4-0.

“We had success all day. I am very pleased. We had a strong effort and despite our youth, we played at a high level, I couldn’t ask for more. I used a ton of different lineups and every kid contributed to our success,” said coach Watson.

Junior Alison LaFave made the all-tournament team leading the offense with 32 kills and three aces. Junior setter Taylor Ehrke had 23 kills, 58 assists and 12 aces on the day.

Sophomore Maddie McLean had 13 kills and 15 ace serves. Junior Vydailya Letts had 12 kills and 10 aces. Junior Noel Nash added nine kills and sophomore Kiersten Waldie had nine kills and four aces. Senior Elena Domke had three kills and three aces.

“We have a deep bench. It was a quality tournament and we had a good showing for the very first day of the season,” said coach Watson.

The Cardinals traveled to Cadillac today (Thursday) for a 16-team tournament that Watson said is the toughest tournament his team will go to all season. Onaway is in a pool with Calumet (ranked No. 8 in Class C), Coopersville and Gaylord. “It is a tough tournament and we are going in hoping to compete. We have finished in the gold bracket the last two years, that will be our goal again this year,” said coach Watson.

Onaway will open up the Ski Valley Conference season at home Sept. 8 when they host Central Lake.

ROGERS CITY fell in the quarterfinals at the Sault Ste. Marie tournament to Petoskey 17-25 and 12-25. “We didn’t do bad but we certainly didn’t reach our potential. That is why we practice,” said coach Jackie Quaine.

Coach Quaine said her team was definitely in the tougher of the two pools of four teams as three teams from the Rogers City pool reached the semifinals.

THE CO-CAPTAINS of the 2015 Rogers City varsity volleyball team are (from left) seniors Sarah Meredith, Megan Brege and Ally Streich. In their opening action of the season the Hurons fell in the semifinals at the Sault Ste. Marie Invitational Saturday. (Photo by Angie Asam)

To start pool play the Hurons split with Petoskey winning game one 21-18 and losing the second 9-21. Rogers City then lost to Houghton 14-21 and 20-22 before defeating Marquette 21-19 and 21-10 to f

inish third in their pool.

In the quarterfinal round the Hurons took on Brimley who finished second in the other pool and won 25-17 and 25-15 to advance to the semifinals where they would fall to the Northmen of Petoskey.

“I thought it was a pretty good day. We were playing the bigger schools and did well. We learned that we have to keep moving on the court and moving quickly,” said coach Quaine.

Senior setter Ally Streich ended the day with 47 set assists and seven ace serves. Senior Sarah Meredith led the attack game with 26 kills while also adding 24 digs and four blocks.

Senior libero Megan Brege had 41 digs to lead the team. Junior Mary Brege added 23 digs. Freshman Taylor Fleming had nine kills and five blocks on the day.