Hurons and Cards to square off for district title

November 5, 2015 Editor featured

Two volleyball powerhouses will square off in the district final match Friday at 6 p.m. in Hillman. Onaway, a final four qualifier in 2012 and 2014, and Rogers City, which beat the Cardinals last week in the county tournament, each won Wednesday to advance to the district finals.

The Hurons topped Posen 25-22, 25-20, 25-17 in a hard-fought match. Posen led 9-7 and 13-11 before the Hurons closed strong in the first set. Five straight points off Ally Streich’s serves gave Rogers City the lead. But Posen came back, started by a perfect set from Jenna Hincka to Cami LaTulip to start a 4-point run. That made the score 20-19 and moments later Posen regained the lead at 22-21 before the Hurons ran off the next five points for the win.

In the second set, the Hurons took a 6-1 lead, but the Vikings came back. Jolene Reese’s ace made the score 7-5. The teams played even most the rest of the way, with neither team getting more than two points in a row.

Onaway setter Taylor Ehrke and Rogers City hitter Sarah Meredith battle for a point at the net during last week's Presque Isle County championship. (Photo by Peter Jakey) — Onaway setter Taylor Ehrke and Rogers City hitter Sarah Meredith battle for a point at the net during last week’s Presque Isle County championship. (Photo by Peter Jakey)

A kill from Taylor Fleming and ace serves by Streich got the Hurons out to a 4-0 start in the third set of the best of five match. Posen stayed close, as the Hurons never led by more than five points until the end. A block from Kayla Rabeau and an ace from Megan Brege built the lead to 19-13.

Onaway had a much easier time with Wolverine, winning its match in less than 45 minutes. The Cards rolled to a 25-4, 25-9, 25-4 win to set up the championship match with Rogers City.

The Cardinals topped the Hurons in the 2013 districts in Rogers City, but los

t star left hitter Mariah Ehrke in the closing moments of the match. They lost in the regionals, failing to repeat a final four trip to Battle Creek. Rogers City moved up to Class C last season, after defeating Onaway during the regular season.

The 2014 Cardinal volleyball team caught fire in the tournament, led by all-state hitter Lexi Szymoniak, winning district and regional titles before topping a tough Stephenson squad in the state quarterfinals. At the final four in Battle Creek last year, the Cardinals took top-rated Leland to five sets before losing by scores of 25-10, 18-25, 20-25, 25-21 and 0-15.

The winner of Friday’s district final plays in the Mackinaw City regional at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The regional finals are planned for Thursday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. at Mackinaw City with the winner advancing to the Class D quarterfinals in Manistique Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.