Parkway’s Savada Triplett tips in a critical point over the block attempt of New Bremen’s Maeve Eilerman in the fourth set of the Panther’s district semi-final win over New Bremen. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
The Parkway Panthers proved to be #2-ranked New Bremen’s kryptonite Tuesday, while St. Henry cruised over Marion Local in the Division VI volleyball district semi-final round at Wapakoneta.
Wapakoneta, OH – Any concerns that New Bremen coach Diana Kramer had about the #3-ranked Parkway Panthers proved legitimate Tuesday night.
Having lost to the Panthers a month ago in the regular season, Kramer’s #2 state-ranked Cardinals stumbled again Tuesday in the district round of the OHSAA tournament 3-1, ending their season with a 19-4 record, along with any notions about a return to the state finals and a fifth title in nine seasons.
“Losing sucks.” – Confucius (circa 459, bc)
Parkway won it in four sets, 25-20, 17-25, 25-23, and 27-25.
Issues?
Well for one, Parkway is good. Very good. And at 20-3, good enough to avoid critical mistakes at points of the match that denied them runs and momentum.
Two, New Bremen simply had too many mistakes at times that, indeed, cost them their customary confidence and momentum.
The youthful Cardinals, always an aggressive hitting team, had too many hitting and serving errors in the match. And Parkway took advantage, building every time on 4 and 5-point runs that were the ultimate kryptonite to New Bremen’s chances.
Yet, New Bremen came close.
In the fourth set, it was tied at 19-19, then three more times before Parkway eventually played its best at 25-25, winning the final two points. The Panthers had a veteran presence with senior Megan Hughes and sophomores Hadley Stover and Savada Triplett, who calmly tipped a critical point over the head of a blocker in the final set.
New Bremen simply wasn’t sharp, and could only counter with too many kill attempts that sailed over the back line and out of bounds. In addition, the Cardinals had seven serving errors throughout the match.
Parkway now advances to the district final round Friday at 6 pm, at Wapakoneta, with a 20-3 record, where they’ll meet Columbus Grove (14-11).
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In the second district semi-final Tuesday, the surging and #3-ranked (OHSAA coaches poll) St. Henry Redskins won their twelfth match in a row in convincing fashion, taking out Marion Local in four sets, 25-19, 25-16, 19-25, and 25-17.
Renee Wendel slams home a point in St. Henry’s four-set win over Marion Local Tuesday in the district semi-final.
And likewise, it was St. Henry’s second win over Marion, having previously met on September 3. St. Henry won that match in five sets.
But the Redskins were sharper this time around…athletic, poised, and used their aggressive offense along with crippling runs of 7-1 and 8-1 to keep Marion Local out of striking range. In their only win, and tied at 17-17, Marion had its own 7-1 run in the third game to close out the set, 25-17.
“We knew it would be tough to beat them,” said St. Henry coach Tricia Rosenbeck, visibly relieved to have gotten past their route 119 rival, just eight miles east.
“Marion Local always plays well against us. But we’re peaking at the right time and we’re just excited to keep playing. It’s hard to play a team for a second time like this. They were persistent.”
Hard, but the Redskins used their own balance, and aggressive style to win in front of an impressive audience that nearly packed Wapakoneta’s spacious gym.
St. Henry now advances to play #3-seed Ashland Crestview on Friday, in Norwalk, at 6 pm.
Marion Local’s Kendyl Hess kept the Flyers’ hopes alive with this dig attempt in the final set.
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