Local Sports: Summerfield volleyball roars back to beat Jefferson in five sets
There is a famous scene in the movie “Hoosiers” where coach Norman Dale measures the court before his team plays a big game to assure his players that it is the exactly the same size as their gym back home.
Perhaps Summerfield volleyball coach Dawn Perry needed to do the same thing Wednesday.
Her Bulldogs were out of sorts in the first set at Jefferson.
“In the first game, our problem was we were used to our own gym,” she said. “We were sending everything out. We could not find the end line.”
During the break between sets, some internal leadership settled Summerfield down.
“Our senior leaders did a good job of rallying the team,” Perry said. “I asked them what was going wrong. They said all good things, were positive and talked about constant improvement."
After dropping the first set by 9 points, Summerfield roared back for a 16-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 15-7 victory.
“It was definitely a battle,” Perry said. “With it being such a mental sport, we learned that you have to fight back and push back. Not everything is going to be handed to them.”
Addison Ciacelli was Summerfield’s leader with 24 assists and 21 digs.
Julia Fietz topped the hitters with 7 kills, and Kailee LaPlante and Megan Pease added 5 each. Ava Fisher was credited with 7 digs. LaPlante served for 25 points, Fietz 16, and Fisher 14. Marissa Eastman played well defensively.
The numbers were very modest for a five-set match.
“There defense was scrappy,” Perry said. “They didn’t let a whole lot hit the floor.”
The Bulldogs improved to 2-1 on the young season.
“We’re hoping that we can build from here,” Perry said. “We needed a kick start to get some momentum with a big non-league win.”
Jefferson got 22 digs and 5 aces from Anna Boggs and 6 kills from Gracie Jones.
“We lacked consistency and struggled to make in-game adjustments,” Jefferson coach Kylie Ely said. “We have some kinks we need to work out but we will come together. The season is just starting.”
Summerfield took the junior varsity match 25-19, 25-12, 25-23 as Maya Stone collected 16 points, 7 aces and 5 digs. Kyra Horak, Addie Spoering, and Jaeli Jones also played well.
PREP VOLLEYBALL
Milan tops Dundee
MILAN − Milan defeated Dundee in five sets Wednesday, winning 25-12, 21-25, 25-22, 21-25, 15-11.
Kennedy Irwin led Dundee with 11 kills, Macy Salenbien had 8 kills and 2 aces, Keira Woodzell recorded 27 assists and 10 digs, and Briley Bordine added 16 digs and 3 aces.
PREP TENNIS
Bedford wins quad
WOODHAVEN – Bedford swept the singles flights to win Wednesday's Woodhaven Quad over Woodhaven, Southgate Anderson, and St. Mary Catholic Central.
The Mules had 23 points and Woodhaven finished second with 18.
Jaxon Nejedlik did not lose a match at No. 2 singles and Carter Ryan and Taylor Burgermeister won all three of their matches at No. 2 doubles in straight sets for Bedford.
Monroe rules top spots
Monroe won the top two singles spots and No. 1 doubles, but fell 5-3 to Ann Arbor Huron Tuesday.
Junior Azariah Duran had a victory at No. 1 singles and Kyle Pafford and Christian Koszka-Lombardo ruled the top doubles spot. The other point for the Trojans came from Hosea Duran at No. 2 singles.
Milan singles strong
ADRIAN – Zach Fink, Tyler Denham, and Nathan Bowman dropped just two games combined at No. 2-3-4 singles in leading Milan past Adrian 8-0 Wednesday.
Jet singles shine
Airport won the first three singles flights with Aiden Self, Ryan Lewis, and Ethan Lassiter but fell 5-3 to Tecumseh Wednesday.
PREP GOLF
Bears off to 9-1 start
NEW BOSTON – Jefferson pushed its record to 9-1 with a 216-261 win over Flat Rock Wednesday.
The Bears were led by Rylee Dunn 50, Kayce Maitland 54, Olivia Peare 55, and Claire Conover 57. Amanda Page shot 56 and Sabrina Barrett 59 for Flat Rock.
SMCC triumphs
Alaina Wylie shot 53 and Gracie Gentry 54 to lead St. Mary Catholic Central to a victory over Milan Wednesday.
Airport drops dual
Airport showed improvement, but Grosse Ile defeated the Jets 214-237 Wednesday at Sandy Creek Golf Course.
Hannah Roof (58), Sophie Bucki (58), and Mariena Lambrix (59) led Airport.
"I am proud of the way our newcomers are progressing and improving," Airport coach Casey McDowell said. "Mariena Lambrix is a junior, but it’s her first year and she had her best overall round so far. Grosse Ile is just so solid and deep that you can’t afford to make any mistakes against them."
PREP SOCCER
Carlson blanked
GIBRALTAR – Gibraltar Carlson fell 3-0 to Melvindale Wednesday night. The Marauders dipped to 5-1-1.
Milan grounds Jets
MILAN – Airport's Brandon McCommas scored his eighth goal of the season, but Milan overwhelmed the Jets 9-1 Wednesday.
Freshman Nolan Ortega also played well also for Airport, which fell to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the Huron League.
CROSS COUNTRY
Bydlowski takes 12th
HILLSDALE – Katelyn Bydlowski placed 12th for Ida in Wednesday’s Hillsdale Invitational, helping the Blue Streaks finish in eighth place.
The boys took 12th place led by Jack Gelso.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Local Sports: Summerfield volleyball roars back to beat Jefferson in five sets 16-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 15-7 Wednesday
