Bulldogs survive past ’Cats

By Jim Metcalfe, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Thursday, October 2, 2008 (3 months, 1 week ago)
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DELPHOS — Survival.
That word best described the Columbus Grove at Jefferson 5-game volleyball marathon Tuesday before a loud and rowdy crowd at Jefferson Senior High School.
It came down to who could finally put the other away, with the unbeaten Lady Bulldogs scratching out a 14-25, 25-12, 24-26, 25-16, 18-16 Northwest Conference dandy.
Nothing was left on the floor for either Jefferson (13-2, 5-2 NWC) or Columbus Grove Tuesday night as the two combatants went at it.
In game 5, the teams almost matched each other point-for-point as neither could wrest control. With the biggest lead of three, the Lady Jeffcats were on the verge of knocking the Bulldogs (17-0, 6-0 NWC) out of the ranks of the unbeaten, leading 14-12 on a spike from Stacey Blockberger (5 kills; 8 block/touches). Back came the visitors, with Mackenzie Vorst (33/39 hitting, 23 kills; 25 digs) with a spike; a hitting miscue tied it at 14.
A Mallorie Wilson tip (16 kills; 21 block/touches; 12 digs; 15-of-15 serving, 1 ace) was answered by a Vorst kill. The units exchanged hitting errors. Kristy Birkemeier (8 aces, 15 points; 3 ;locks, 2 solos; 24 digs) put down the team’s 14th ace to get the ’Dogs to match point. Her next serve was unreturned, finally ending the nearly 2-hour match.
“We had this match and let it get away; good teams don’t do that. Columbus Grove is a good team; they didn’t let it get away,” Jefferson coach Diane Wilson began. “We want to be where they are at. This is a match where you find out how good you are and we really wanted it — badly. All of us are crushed: coaches and players. We played so hard and so well.”
Grove mentor Jody Benda shared those thoughts.
“It was a hell of a match; the atmosphere and intensity were remarkable. We played Jefferson a lot this summer and they had our number, so we knew they’d have a lot of confidence,” she noted. “To see how far Coach Wilson has brought their program is amazing; she’s built it up very well. I think they’re going to give some teams a lot of trouble in the tournament and go far.”
The Lady ’Cats were on fire at the start, riding the likes of Wilson and some uncharacteristic poor hitting from the Bulldogs. Three 5-0 spurts: four each on serves by Wilson, Stephanie Blockberger (6 kills; 4 blocks; 12-of-13 serving, 1 ace) and Jenna Miller (4 kills; 7 blocks; 10 digs; 11-of-12 serving, 2 aces); put the Red and White up 19-8. They finished it off with a Stacey Blockberger hit off the block for game 1.
“We wanted to set the tone early and we did,” Wilson continued. “We showed we can compete with the big dogs; we just have to learn how to finish with the big dogs. Grove is one of those teams that has no weaknesses in its rotation; they are so well-rounded.”
Game 2 was just the opposite of the first: a 6-0 span, five on the serves of Vorst; put the Crimson and Gray up 9-4. As well, the Wildcats started to misfire and the Bulldogs got the likes of Morgan Kohls (30/38 hitting, 20 kills; 2 aces) and Jena Diller (9 kills; 18/18 serving) more involved. Another 6-0 spurt — five on the serving of Diller — put them in complete command at 16-7. Her hit off a back-row defender knotted the match at a game each.
Jefferson once more had the better start in the third game, building up a 12-7 lead on an ace from Ashley Watkins (6 kills; 14 block/touches; 8 digs; 16-of-16 serving, 2 aces), prompting a timeout by Benda. Jefferson still had a 5-point lead — 17-12 — when the Bulldogs steadily rallied, eventually taking a 24-21 lead on a kill from Vorst. A hitting error just out of bounds put the serve in the hands of Courtney Rostorfer (4 digs; 19-of-19 serving, 1 ace). She got that ace and then Wilson came up with three stuff-blocks to sneak away game 3.
“Mallorie played a whale of a match at the net. She isn’t our hardest hitter but she is our smartest player for only being 5-9; she knows where to hit it,” Wilson added.
If Grove was bothered by the fact they let that one slip away, they really didn’t show it in game 4. They got the lead at 7-6 on a Diller kill and never trailed again. They found the hitting touch and pulled away late, getting a kill by Kohls to force game 5.
Bridget Culp (12 kills; 3 blocks; 4 digs) and Kristin Klausing (12 digs; 18-of-18 serving) were also key cogs for the hosts.
Erica Glass (19/20 serving; 136/136 setting, 53 assists) was solid for the visitors.
“We won tonight not with volleyball skills but with heart and leadership. We have focused a lot this season and in the summer on the mental part,” Benda added. “I told the senior girls down the stretch that this was their time and they weren’t coming out, that they had worked too hard. We found a way to win.”
In JV action, Grove (11-6) took a 25-19, 24-26, 25-16 triumph over the hosts (9-7, 4-3 NWC).
Jefferson visits NWC power Crestview Thursday. JV starts at 6 p.m. Grove welcomes in fellow unbeaten LCC.

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