Cardinals improve to 7-0 in conference, own share of title

by Angie Asam-Staff Writer

Tuesday at home the Onaway Cardinals varsity volleyball team swept Bellaire 25-19, 25-18 and 25-25 to improve to 25-11-5 overall and 7-0 in the Ski Valley Conference. The win guaranteed the Cardinals at least a share of the conference title, the first of a few goals the team set for themselves this season.

In their next match, Tuesday at home against Mancelona, the Cardinals will look to clinch their third conference title in as many years. It will be parents’ night and senior night as it is the last regular season home match for the Cardinals.

“We are not in a sharing mood. These girls want to win the conference outright. This would be our third conference championship in a row and prior to winning the title in 2012 we had no conference titles. It is just surreal that we never had one and now we have won at least a share three years in a row,” said coach Steve Watson.

 

Senior Lexi Szymoniak had 19 kills and 18 digs against Bellaire. Sophomore setter Taylor Ehrke had eight kills, 27 set assists and five digs.

Senior Elise Arkwood had six kills, four ace serves and 13 digs on the night. Junior Jade Galer had three kills and six digs.

Senior Morganne Badgero had two aces and 13 digs and senior

Ashley LaLonde had 11 digs. Senior Shyanne Corey added 11 digs as well.

“We had early leads in the first two games but had errors that let them back in. The scores were a lot closer than the match showed. We made mistakes. Overall it was a conference win that gets us one step closer to our goal of winning a conference title,” said coach Watson.

THE CARDINALS faced Mancelona at the home tournament Oct. 4 and defeated them 25-10 and 26-24. Attaining a third straight conference title is something the Cardinals can certainly do, but they will have to play tough in Tuesday’s game.

It will be parents’ night and also time to honor seniors Lexi Szymoniak, Morganne Badgero, Elise Arkwood, Shyanne Corey, Ashley LaLonde and Brianna Fitzpatrick. Coach Watson hopes to have a good crowd there to support his team as they vie for the conference title.