Cardinals have busy week, host districts beginning Monday
by Angie Asam–Staff Writer
The Onaway Cardinals varsity volleyball team played three times in four days with a tournament and two tri-meets early this week. They are now getting in practice time as theY prepare for the district tournament which they host beginning Monday. Hillman and Wolverine square off at 6 p.m. Monday while Onaway and Posen meet at 7:30 that evening. The two winners move on to the district final scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday Nov. 6.
Tuesday the Cardinals traveled to Rogers City for the Presque Isle Championships against the Hurons and the Posen Vikings. Onaway took on Posen in the opening match and dominated game one as they won 25-15 and never trailed in the game. Game two was again all Onaway as they won 25-12. In the final game the Cardinals won 15-10.
Next up for the Cardinals, ranked #9 in Class D, were the honorable mention Class C Rogers City Hurons. Onaway came out on fire in the first game and led the Hurons 21-13 late in the game.
A couple of hitting errors by Onaway and an ace by Rogers City’s Jena Tulgestke made the score 21-15 and had coach Steve Watson calling a timeout. The teams would go back and forth and the Cardinals led 23-20 when they gave the ball back to the Hurons on another hitting error making it 23-21. Two plays later a hitting error by the Hurons gave Onaway the ball going for match point leading 24-22. A net violation followed by a Huron ace by Cassidy Purgiel and a kill from Tulgestke gave Rogers City the 25-24 lead. They would take the game on the next serve.
“When you get in the first set in a position to win against a real good team you have to find a way to finish. It was another example of us not being able to win the close game this year. We played hard, tough volleyball three times in four days. It was a big strain but it is good to be against tough competition at this point in the season,” said coach Watson.
Rogers City took game two 25-18 and game three 15-10 to take the match. The Hurons also defeated Posen to take the championship trophy.
Senior Lexi Szymoniak had 25 kills, three aces and 24 digs on the day. Sophomore setter Taylor Ehrke had seven kills, 36 assists, five aces and 18 digs.
Senior Elise Arkwood had seven kills and 13 digs and senior Morganne Badgero had four kills, three aces and 19 digs. Senior Shyanne Corey added two kills, two aces and seven digs.
Monday the Cardinals traveled to Sault Ste. Marie for a tri-meet with the Blue Devils and Cheboygan. The Cardinals defeated Sault Ste. Marie 25-23 and 25-19 but fell to Cheboygan 18-25 and 23-25.
Szymoniak had 20 kills, three aces, 25 digs and four blocks. Ehrke had three kills, 31 assists and 22 digs. Arkwood had six kills, three aces and 19 digs. Senior Ashley LaLonde had three aces and 20 digs.
SATURDAY THE Cardinals were in St. Louis for an invitational. They started the day off with #4 Class C Morley Stanwood and lost 19-25 and 11-25. They then lost to Laingsburg 25-27 and 13-25. Onaway defeated Alma 25-10, 22-25 and 15-10 to end pool play.
The Cardinals moved on to the silver bracket where they defeated Ithaca 25-20 and 25-19 before falling to Vestabur
“Playing districts at home is a nice comfort level. The girls have really been waiting to play districts all year. We set two team goals this season, one to win the conference ,which we did, and the other to do a lot in the postseason. The second starts now. It is exciting and now we only worry about our next opponent,” said coach Watson.