St. Ursula tops Rebels

St. Ursula's Colleen Slattery spikes the ball through the attempted block by Bowsher's Biz Schaetzke. Schaetzke had six kills for the Rebels, who finish 18-8. St. Ursula is 25-0.

MILLBURY - Bowsher took it right to undefeated and No. 1-ranked St. Ursula in their Division I district volleyball championship at Lake yesterday - at the beginning of each game.

But the Arrows, state runners-up last year, were not to be denied. They eventually took control in both games, winning 15-6, 15-7.

The victory sends them to a regional semifinal match-up against No. 2-ranked and also undefeated Elyria at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Willard.

“We're looking forward to that match,'' St. Ursula coach John Buck said. “There's been a lot of talk about Nos. 1 and 2 meeting, both undefeated. If we both play our games, I like our chances.”

Yesterday, the Arrows (25-0) fell behind 4-3 in the first game before senior Ann Dzierwa stepped back to serve. She hit a couple that weren't returned, seniors Erica Florian and Elizabeth Cron posted kills, sophomore Sarah Florian had a good block, and St. Ursula jumped to an 11-4 advantage enroute to the first-game win.

“Give credit to Bowsher,'' Buck said. “They matched us side out for side out in the first game. They were not intimidated, and I was real pleased with how we responded and pulled ahead to win.”

Led by junior Christy Kinkead and senior Biz Schaetzke, who had six kills, Bowsher went up 2-0 and eventually 7-5 in the second game before the Arrows again rallied.

Cron registered four of her match-high nine kills and Erica Florian had a few more, including one while serving out the match.

“I think every single hitter could have had as many kills as I did. That's just where the balls went,'' Cron said.

“We played extremely well the first half of both games,'' said Bowsher coach Jan Lehman. “Unfortunately, you have to play both halves.”

She said that serving and service reception ultimately hurt the Rebels.

“(St. Ursula is) just so solid. Honestly, I've never seen a team that's overall as solid as they are with every single player,'' said Lehman, who has coached for almost 20 years, the past 11 for the Rebels (18-8).

“My girls just play. We might not be the most talented team, but we've got lots of heart. I don't think anyone expected us to beat Central (sectional final) or Northview (district semifinal), actually.”

Erica and Sarah Florian finished with five kills apiece. Sarah added four blocks, and senior setter Kaycie Carr finished with 25 assists.

“We look at it as us having five good swings,'' Buck said. “We can go anyplace with the ball, but Elizabeth (Cron) was hot so we kept pumping the ball out to her.

“Kaycie (Carr) did a good job of pumping it out to our hot hitter.''