Local Sports: Summerfield, SMCC volleyball win District openers

PETERSBURG − Summerfield coach Dawn Perry felt the team had a good draw for the Division 4 District it is hosting this week.

The District includes top-ranked Adrian Lenawee Christian, but the Bulldogs don't have to worry about any potential matchup against the Cougars until at least the championship match.

Summerfield will need to be playing at its best if that happens.

Tuesday was a strong start.

The Bulldogs opened District play with 25-12, 25-17, 25-13 sweep of Waldron to advance to the semifinals 7 p.m. Thursday against Morenci.

"This was a strong performance tonight to start District play," Perry said. "However, we still have some things to work on before the next round."

Addison Ciacelli was strong for Summerfield with 34 assists, 6 digs, 10 service points and 4 aces. Julia Fietz also was strong from the service line with 8 points while adding 4 kills, Kailee LaPlante had 13 kills and 6 digs, Megan Pease chipped in 5 kills and 5 blocks, Mia Miller added 5 kills and 2 blocks, and Sophia LaRocca controlled the defense with 19 digs.

PREP VOLLEYBALL

SMCC dominates Aggies

SAND CREEK − St. Mary Catholic Central had no issue rolling through its Division 3 District opener Tuesday at Sand Creek. The Kestrels swept the host school in three sets 25-8, 25-12, 25-5.

SMCC, the No. 1 team in the state in Division 3, advances to the District semifinals 7 p.m. Thursday against Adrian Madison.

Huron goes out

GROSSE ILE − New Boston Huron put up a strong fight the whole way but fell in four sets in the opening round of the Division 2 Districts to Riverview.

The Pirates won 25-18, 13-25, 25-16, 25-20.

"Our girls played amazing tonight," Huron coach Kaitlyn Hinojosa said. "They never gave up. Even when we were down and there was a deficit, they kept playing. They fought to the end."

Quinn Drysdale posted a double-double for Huron with 17 digs and 12 assists, Ellen Town and Miranda Jasinski added 14 digs and 6 kills each, Allison Hollingshead had 20 digs, and Maddy Dulecki served two aces.

Seniors Gabrielle Cumbo, Hollingshead, Jasinski, Drysdale, and Dulecki played their final game for Huron.

"These seniors are very supportive, they're very knowledgeable, and they're very close to one another," Hinojosa said. "They've been a huge asset to the program and it's going to be a huge loss for us.

"Fortunately, we have a lot of young, incoming talent, so we're looking at a good future for the program."

State power tops Whiteford

SAND CREEK − Blissfield, the No. 6-ranked team in Division 4, swept Whiteford in the first round of District Tuesday 25-8, 25-16, 25-22.

Alaina Andrews led the Bobcats with 11 assists and 11 digs, Ava Hillard contributed 12 digs, and Allison Spradling and Kenzie Gray added 4 kills apiece. Whiteford finished the season 13-12-2 overall.

"We ended on a positive note," Whiteford coach Janie Bunge said. "We have a goal of improving every week and I think that's what we did. ... It will be hard losing seven seniors. They were a huge part of our team. They drove everything for us."

Whiteford's departing seniors are Andrews, Hillard, Spradling, VanBrandt, Jessica Ulery, Mackenzie Ulery, Alyssa Ulery

Carlson swept out

TRENTON − Trenton already had two wins over Gibraltar Carlson this season.

Tuesday was its best yet.

The Trojans took down Carlson 25-14, 25-12, 25-14 in the first round of the Division 1 District they're hostling.

"Trenton played the best tonight of the three times we saw them," Marauders' coach Bill Henneman said. "They passed well and were able to score in transition where we struggled."

Abby Schenavar and Ava Romej led the team in kills, while Sylar Zaranka was the digs leader to pace the defense.

"We struggled to control the ball on serve receive and defense tonight," Henneman said. "When we did control the ball, our middle hitters were find some success."

Seniors Gloria Llakmani, Zaranka, Romej, and Schenvar all played well in their final game.

"These seniors were a fun group. They will all be missed," Henneman said. "It would have been nice to get through to Thursday, but it was not to be,"

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Local Sports: Summerfield, SMCC volleyball win District openers