Volleyball team opens with home win over Cheboygan
The Rogers City Huron girls had their home opener Monday evening and claimed victory over the visiting Chiefs of Cheboygan in the best out of five games. The Hurons were able to put the Chiefs away in four, winning the first match 15-1, followed by a 16-14 overtime win, but lost the third 9-15. In the comeback game, the Hurons pulled out the victory 15-6.
It seemed the Hurons would cruise to an easy swipe after the opening game, but the Chiefs got into gear and matched points pulling even 11-11 on a Huron muffed return shot. It looked for a time to be a worrisome game as the Chiefs pulled ahead at one point 14-11, but the Huron girls rallied when Megan Grulke popped an ace and one more good point on her service followed by the tie point on Megan Hanson?s serve. The end result was on two Lindsey Fleming serves for a 16-14 win.
The Hurons tired out in the third match as the score went 3-3 during nine services before Cheboygan pulled ahead 5-3 then 8-3 before Lauren Fairbanks dished up one point during her service followed by two from Becky Bruning, but still leaving the Hurons 8-6 behind. The only other Huron point scored was on a Bruning service and the Chiefs took the game 15-9.
DETERMINED to put an end to the match in the fourth game, the Hurons sprung out front 9-3 when Hanson took the service and smacked four over the net, including three consecutive aces, for a 13-3 lead. Cheboygan gave it a try but Fairbanks took the service and decisively ended the match with an ace followed by the winning point, 15-6. ?Tonight we were mixing it up quite a bit,? said coach Kristy Smolinski. ?It?s a matter of getting them used to when I put different players into a new position. They have to learn to adjust and make it work. That should come with experience.? Leading the Hurons? stats were Fairbanks with 31 digs, some quite spectacular, and one ace, followed by Ashley Fleming?s 13 digs and four aces. Hanson had a great night with 40 set assists, 14 digs, and three aces. Grulke had 20 digs, Lindsey Fleming had 10 digs and one ace, and Bruning had 11 digs and an ace.
IN SATURDAY?S Traverse City Central Invitational, the Hurons had their best finish against powerful Class B teams in the past five years. There were three pools of three team
The Hurons finished fifth out of nine teams, according to team records. They began pool play and lost 2-15 and 3-15 against Class B state runner-ups Fruitport. The Hurons then split with Glen Lake 8-15 and 15-7 in the first power round.
The Hurons went on to beat Northern Michigan Christian 15-11 and 15-12. On the day, Ashley Fleming had 24 kills, 21 digs, eight aces, and two blocks, while Fairbanks had 22 kills, 17 digs, eight aces, and three blocks. Hanson had 16 digs and 51 set assists and Lindsey Fleming had 19 digs. The Huron varsity record stands at 2-(wins)2-(loses)1-(split).
The varsity Hurons will travel to the Delta Invitational Saturday and will host Newberry and Alcona January 9.
