Coldwater’s Spencer Etzler tips the ball for a point during Friday’s 3-1 semi-final win over Independence. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
At times, it was everything you expect from #1-ranked Coldwater, and then a hiccup that made them regroup. But it ended well…the Cavaliers play in Saturday’s final for their first title in volleyball.
Vandalia, OH – God love Coldwater coach Nikki Etzler…because her glass is always half full.
Playing for the privilege of competing for the Cavaliers’ first state title in girls volleyball on Saturday…she could talk about nothing more than how exciting it is.
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Playing at a level throughout the season so high it’s intimidating to those who dare to challenge…it’s simply a team thing.
Suffering an unexpected hiccup during the second set of Friday’s Division VI state semi-final match with Independence…a burp that not only cost them the set, but threatened momentum beyond…no problem!
Her equilibrium is so keen that she makes a flat kitchen floor look like the Grand Canyon.
Her Cavaliers beat Independence High School (24-5) Friday to advance to the Division VI title game on Saturday, 25-13, 22-25, 25-10, and 25-13, improving their record to 28-0, and establishing themselves as the odds-on favorite Saturday to secure the school’s first title in volleyball…EVER!
Coldwater’s Harlow Heyne competes for a point with Emily Novak, from Independence, during Friday’s semi-final round win at Butler High School.
Odds-on?
They’ve been the state’s #1 team in Division VI all season.
They at one point played 12 consecutive matches without dropping a set…then lost a set to Versailles while winning 3-1…and then won their next twelve without dropping a set, and then one to St. Henry in the district tournament final. What’s not to like?
But after blowing through Independence in Friday’s first set, 25-13, with a 5-0 run to start, and a 10-5 run to finish, they inexplicably played their worst twenty minutes of volleyball all season, dropping the second set, 22-25, after at one point leading 7-1.
They seemed to lose focus – communication…confidence…three things that’ll get you beat in a high stakes volleyball match with your season and history on the line. Allowing Independence to stick their foot in the door, the Blue Devils overcame that 7-1 deficit to go on an 11-5 run, tie the set at 16-16, then kicked the door in by taking 9 of the next 15 points for a 22-25, shocking win.
“They were serving super aggressive, and our first contact was a miscue for us,” explained Etzler afterwards. “We allowed some serving aces to happen, which is not typical of our team. We had to refocus on working our feet, our angles, our reads, and making sure we communicated with one another, because we’re a team…just having the confidence in one another.”
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Simple as that…they flipped the script immediately to take the third set 25-10, after starting it poorly. Trailing 7-6, they crept back with a 6-1 run to go up 13-8, then simply outworked Independence with a finishing 12-1 run.
Leading 2-1, they pretty much did a wash, rinse, and repeat in the fourth set, starting out 6-0, then rode an 18-11 run to totally flumux Independence, the #6-ranked team in the state, and capture the match, 25-13.
Morgan Blasingame rips a point through the block attempt of an Independence blocker.
They went from the penthouse, to the outhouse, and back to the penthouse in the blink of an eye – or about twenty minutes – and made the adjustment while appearing totally undeterred. No panic, no yelling, and no questioning – at least outwardly. Glass half full.
“We just went away from playing Coldwater volleyball during that twenty minutes,” said Spencer Etzler, coach’s daughter, and candidate for every Division VI honor available, post-season.
“We didn’t do a lot of the things that we talk about all the time. We didn’t play loose…we got tense…and besides the adjustments, then we just got back to having fun. We always play better when we have fun.”
Etzler was so conspicuous by her overall contribution that Independence did its best to try and play away from her. Problem was, Etzler (who’s going to Stanford to play next fall) was so athletic and instinctive that they couldn’t avoid her. Unofficially, she finished with 13 kills, a handful of service aces, an assortment of blocks, digs, and assists, and every time a change in momentum was called for Spencer Etzler was there to answer the call.
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She, and teammate Morgan Blasingame, who became energized coming out of that twenty minute funk in the second set to have her typical dominant hitting game in the final two sets.
‘Coach’ Etzler smiled at the question, “Could Spencer have possibly done more with so much on the line?”
When things go badly…an Independence player hides her disappointment during the final moments of Friday’s semi-final loss to Coldwater.
“It’s what Spencer brings to our team,” she answered. “She’s super composed, she’s a student of the game so she’s able to share what she sees – what’s working and what’s not working – on the court, and that’s just invaluable. She’s aggressive, and we needed that tonight.
“But we always say in the gym…it’s not just one person. Volleyball is all about being a team, so she’s not able to do those things if she doesn’t have her teammates beside her. So we’re a team, and we work together as a team.”
Twice denied of the elusive state title in the past – in 2017 and ’22 – Etzler’s Cavaliers hope the third time is the charm Saturday when they’ll meet Marion Pleasant at 5 pm for the 2024 Division VI crown. That match will take place at the Nutter Center, in Fairborn, and not Vandalia High School, the site of Friday’s semi-final round.
Marion Pleasant is making its first-ever appearance in the volleyball Final Four, seeking, of course, its first title, as well. The opponent is secondary at this point, as Coldwater, the Etzlers, Blasingame, team, et.al. are just thankful for the opportunity.
“We are so excited to get to this match and experience it,” said Etzler. “We’ll take a look at Marion Pleasant, come up with a strategy, and lean on our strengths.”
Now how can you be more even-keel than that…with so much on the line?
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