High school weekly rewind: Holland Christian volleyball edges Hamilton in rivalry showdown
The Holland Christian-Hamilton volleyball rivalry renewed with another intensely close match on Thursday.
The Maroons were able to hold off the Hawkeyes in four sets, winning 25-10, 23-25, 25-22, 26-24.
Holland Christian was able to spread the offense around, keeping the Hawkeyes on their toes.
Sophia Pierce had 11 kills, while Avery Huisman and Annabel Pierce each added 10 and Tianna Stygstra had nine. Huisman had 21 digs and Tryna VanderZwaag had 24 and 49 assists.
"We had a game plan to come storming out of the gates and not look back," Holland Christian coach Gerrit VanKlaveren said. "These girls came fired up and ready to play. It was awesome to see. The crowd and atmosphere were amazing and helped carry the momentum in our favor through the night. I commend the Hawkeyes for coming right back and taking set two. They did not sit back. I think they found their groove on defense which allowed them to swing some more at us the rest of the night, keeping the games tight and us on our toes.
"We stayed focused. Our coaching staff trusted our girls when down, they seemed focused and ready, so we were not worried about our effort. We trusted our aggressive attack and worked on our communication on the back end and the results came as we hoped. Full team effort."
Hamilton was led by Jeralyn Hoppes with 14 kills and 13 digs. Joelle Boeskool had 18 assists and Emma O'Connor added eight kills.
"We started out very slow but once we learned HCs quick offense our blocking and defense improved in the following sets. Swinging for the kill helped us win that second set," Hamilton coach Britney Fogerty said. "I’m so proud of this team for putting up a great fight. We will continue to work on consistency in our hits, and serves."
VOLLEYBALL
Mona Shores 3, Holland 0
The Dutch lost the OK Green match 25-16, 25-16, 25-7.
Leading Holland was Libby Lefebre with six kills; Ari Gray with 11 digs and Makayla Peart with eight assists. Holland is 0-4 overall and 0-1 in the OK Green.
BOYS SOCCER
Zeeland East 2, Holland 0
The Chix won the OK Green match.
"The back line for East was stellar recording another shutout on the season," Zeeland East coach Zack Williams said.
"Zeeland East played well," said Holland soccer coach Greg Ceithaml. "We tried to match their energy. Unfortunately, we could not challenge their goal consistently. We will work on our passing, especially in the attack."Holland is now 2-5-1.
Holland 1, Traverse City Christian 1
Holland tied Traverse City Christian 1-1. Odis Fickel floated a cross and Gabe Bos headed it home for the tying goal.
"We played as hard as we could in that second match," said Holland coach Greg Ceithaml. "Traverse City Christian had a strong counter-attack so I am happy with our defensive effort."
Holland is now 2-6-2 for the season after losing 4-0 to Traverse City West.
Hamilton 1, Allegan 0
The Hawkeyes earned a non-conference win over Allegan. Diego Medellin scored a header goal off a Joe Johnson serve in the second half to notch the game's only goal. The Hamilton defense - led by team captain Malachi Lauer, Kayden Burch, Justin Stark, Drew Borg, and Tristan Patch - held strong throughout with Griffin Bolhuis preserving the shutout in net, making a key foot save in the waning moments of the contest.
"This team has been building and building in a variety of ways since day one of the season - but really back to June when we first started training. It's been a culture shift," Hamilton coach Tyler Robinson said. "And it's a credit to the guys. Winning on the scoreboard feels good tonight, but we've really been mostly winning with our own personal team goals since the start of the season in most of our early season games. Our overall record may not show it fully, but we are an improving team and program."
Holland Christian 3, Spring Lake 0
Kyle Cannon scored twice and Lake VanderPloeg assisted on all three goals as the Maroons won the OK Blue match.
Lucas Freriks also scored for Holland Christian (6-1-1; 2-0-1 in OK Blue). Daniel Morgan made three saves in goal for the shutout.
Fennville 5, Bridgman 1
Juan Porrez led Fennville with three goals. Angel Villalobos scored a goal and had two assists. Chris Solis-Salazar also added a goal. Miguel Solis-Salazar, Emanuel Guzman and Armando Sanchez were all credited with an assist.
Hartford 1, Fennville 0
Fennville lost 1-0 to No. 1 ranked Hartford (Division 4). Jose Sanchez had seven saves in goal for Fennville.
Black River 2, Watervliet 2
Black River goals were scored by Julian Fowler and Mike Galicia. Assists went to Jake VanderHenst and Ty Elmer. Talan Nahal made seven saves in goal.
Zeeland West 9, Muskegon 1
The Dux opened the scoring when Sammy Salas scored on an assist from Jo Faucher. Trigve Elkins scored on a penalty kick after he was taken down inside the box to put the Dux up 2-0. Sammy Salas scored again and Sam Dilaura hit a beautiful tailing shot off of a half volley that put the Dux up 4-0. Micah Henry rounded out the first-half scoring on an assist from Trigve Elkins and it was 5-1 at the break.
The second half was dominated by the Dux as they put in four more goals to seal the victory. They had goals by Ulisses Gomez-Fernandez on assist from Sam Dilaura, Sammy Salas got a hat trick on his third from Trigve Elkins, Micah Henry got a second goal, also on an assist from Trigve Elkins. Jehu Cavada capped the scoring on a beautiful goal on a rebound to end the game for the Dux.
West Ottawa 2, Hudsonville 1; hang with No. 2 Troy
Carson Witvoet nicely laid the ball within Rodrigo Perez stride to score the goal to secure the lead. The Eagles did not quit and regrouped to score the tying goal at the 30th minute of the game.
Cash Williams of Hudsonville dribbled the length of the field to calmly find an open Eagle to score the tying goal.
But West Ottawa's Rodrigo Perez striked again from 20 yards out to score the winning goal.
The Panthers also lost to No. 2 Troy 4-3 on Saturday.
Jairo Grimaldo scored the first goal with an assist by Theo Borgman. The Panthers' adjustment on their transition defense create many chances to relieve pressure from the Colts. Grimaldo did not stop there as he assisted Andrew Spilotro's first goal. Spilotro scored his second goal by calmly tucking the ball underneath the Colt's keeper thanks to Christian Castillo's diagonal pass to assist his second goal of the game.
CROSS COUNTRY
Chix win girls jamboree
The Zeeland East cross country teams traveled to Johnson Park for the first of three OK Green Jamborees. The girls team finished 1st with 38 points. Ally Kuzma won the race overall with teammates Meredith Cook (6th), Emma Drnek (7th), Cece Kuras (10th), Taryn DiLaura (14th), Addie Grill (15th), Hayley Heinrich (16th), and Megan Kuzma (19th) all finishing in the top 25 (Libby Post and Sophie Koleszar finished just outside in 26th and 27th, respectively).
Holland finished fourth with Alisa Mason taking fourth overall.
The boys' team finished 5th with 96 points. Gavin Wiersma (5th) and Caden Guffey (17th) both finished in the top 25 with Dylan Walters finishing just outside (26th).
Dux win boys jamboree
The Zeeland West Boy's Cross Country team kicked off their conference season with a strong team performance at Johnson Park. In the jamboree, the Dux ran to first place finish (29 points) ahead of runner up Mona Shores (71 points).
Chase Holwerda lead the way with a second-place finish followed by seven more teammates less than a minute behind. This top end performance allowed the team to place eight runners in the top 15.
Holland finished fourth, led by Adrian Castillo (fourth) and Noah Lambers (sixth).
GIRLS SWIMMING
Grand Haven 167, West Ottawa 148
Makenzie Baldwin won the 50 freestyle (25.06) and the 100 backstroke (59.05). Madelyn Brack won diving (173.50).
GR Christian 119, Hamilton 67
Jocelyn Borg who won the 100 yard breaststroke for the Hawkeyes.
BOYS TENNIS
Holland 6, Zeeland East 2
The Dutch won the OK Green showdown.
Holland's Andrew Lubbers defeated Will Michmerhuizen 6-2, 6-3 at No. 2 singles. James Baer topped Levi Barense 7-5, 6-1 at No. 4.
Zeeland East got wins from Brady Schanski at No. 1 singles, 6-3, 6-4 over Aiden Sin, and Charlie Reese, 6-1, 6-3 over Graham VanFaasen at No. 3.
Holland swept the doubles with Sam Payne-Elliot Wehrmeyer defeating Alex Macy, Gavin Guzicki 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1. Emmett Book-Oscar Miller beat Atari Kuras-Jailen Nesbitt 7-5, 6-0 at No. 2. Willem Evenson-Will Lubbers beat Dominik Reider-Parker Bronkema 7-5, 7-5 at No. 3. Harper Prutch-Owen Baer beat Seth VanTimmeren-Eastern Beukema 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 at No. 4.
The Chix lost 7-1 to Grandville on Thursday, Jenison 4-3 on Friday and 6-2 to Kalamazoo Hackett on Saturday.
Holland Christian 8, Spring Lake 0
The Maroons won the OK Blue match in a sweep.
Tucker Heneghan won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 1. Leif Bauman won 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 at No. 2. Josh Dawson won 6-0, 6-3 at No. 3 and Dylan Becksvoort won 6-3, 6-0 at No. 4.
In doubles, Simon Langejans-Henry Langejans won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 1. Mitchell Boerman-Tryg Tanis won 6-2, 6-4 at No. 2. Jackson Engbers-Tyler Hemmeke won 6-2, 6-2 at No. 3 and Hayden Bauman-Evan Disselkoen won 6-7(11), 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4.
West Ottawa 8, Rockford 1
The Panthers defeated the Rams for the first time in a dual meet since 2017.
Elliot Dozeman won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1. Traiden Bethke won 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2. Trevyn Bethke won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 and Drew Rothstein won 6-1, 6-4 at No. 4.
In doubles, Liam Herweyer-Jack O'Brien won 7-6(5), 6-2 at No. 1. Jake Bloomers-Cody Schurman won 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 at No. 2. Brody Ruby-Brayden Goodwin won 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 at No. 3. Max McCormick-Landon Meyer won 6-4, 6-2 at No. 4.
West Ottawa 9, Caledonia 0
The Panther swept the OK Red match. Elliot Dozeman won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles. Traiden Bethke won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2. Trevyn Bethke won 6-2, 6-0 at No. 3. Drew Rothstein won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4.
In doubles, Liam Herweyer-Jack O'Brien won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1. Jake Bloomers-Cody Schurman won 6-3, 6-0 at No. 2. Brody Ruby-Brayden Goodwin won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 3. Max McCormick-Landon Meyer won 6-1, 6-3 at No. 4. Hugh Ervine-Teedy Mauger won 6-4, 6-1 at No. 5.
Hudsonville Unity Christian 6, Hamilton 2
The Hawkeyes lost the OK Blue match. Jackson Miller won 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2 singles and Aiden Hamlin-Reece Carlson won 6-4, 7-5 at No. 2 doubles.
Hamilton went on to beat Otsego 7-1, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian 7-1 and Middleville 6-2 later in the week.
GIRLS GOLF
Dux take second
The West varsity golf team placed secondnd at the Grand Rapids Union Jamboree held at The Mines Golf Course.
The Dux were led by Rylee Smith with a 40. Eve Kasten added a 43, Natalie Kernstock a 50 while Kairi Beckwith and Izzy Zamora had a pair of 54s.
Holland was fourth. The leading scorer was Emma Hulst with a 53 and 11th overall.
Zeeland West also took seconds at the Unity Christian Invitational held at Pigeon Creek Golf Course Thursday. Rylee Smith led the Dux with a 39. Kairi Beckwith added a 40, Izzy Zamora contributed a 47 while Natalie Kernstock had a 51.
West Ottawa takes eighth
The Panthers traveled to L.E. Kaufman GC to compete in the Grandville Jamboree and shot a 225 to finish eighth. West Ottawa was led by Ana Niziolek with a 49, followed by Danika Denhof with a 54, Avery VanDellen with a 57, and Isabella Grantham and Carissa Lugo both with 65s.
West Ottawa also took eighth on Thursday in another OK Red jamboree. Leading the Panthers was Ana Niziolek with a 49, followed by Avery VanDellen with a 55, Isabella Grantham with a 57, and Anna Anderson with a 63.
BOYS WATER POLO
Zeeland 17, East Kentwood 2
The Zeeland varsity water polo team defeated East Kentwood 17-2 in their conference opener. It was a balanced attack with a lot of good passing and counter attack goals. The defense played strong and denied much of the East Kentwood attack.
The team was led in scoring by Mason Landes with six. Will Posthumus, Ethan Streeter and Keagan Louwerse each had two goals. Mason and Will also had three assists. Lucas Dattels played great off ball defense and came away with four steals. In cage, Keaton Draeger had six saves and Jacob Manschesky posted a shutout with three saves.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: High school weekly rewind: Holland Christian volleyball edges Hamilton in rivalry showdown
