Perrysburg junior Brooklynn Okoneski (3) celebrates with her teammates after they won the fourth set and the match during a district semifinal match against Fremont Ross Monday at Hopewell-Louden High School. Perrysburg defeated Fremont Ross 3-1 (23-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-17). (Scott W. Grau/Sentinel-Tribune)
BASCOM — Northern Lakes League Cardinal Division volleyball champion Fremont Ross was riding high on an 18-game win streak that started with a five set non-league victory over Perrysburg early in the season.
On Monday at Hopewell-Loudon High School, the win streak ended at the hands of the Yellow Jackets in four sets, 23-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-17.
“They kind of turned it up a notch tonight for sure for wanting revenge kind-of, or avenge themselves, or wanting to go farther in the tournament,” Perrysburg coach Laura Davidson said.
“I think our girls came in with a chip on their shoulder. It was a tight match when we did lose to them, and it was at the beginning of the season, so obviously there has been a lot of season since then.”
Perrysburg junior outside hitter Sophie Burkey led the Yellow Jackets with 17 kills, two blocks and senior middle blocker Wrigley Takats had eight kills and five blocks.
However, there was one starter present who was missing, injured, when the Yellow Jackets faced the Little Giants earlier in the season — sophomore outside hitter Katie Pahl, who had 15 kills, an ace, and “great serve-receive passing,” said Davidson.
“Oh my gosh, Katie Pahl is just such an important part of our team and it’s not just the physical aspect either,” said Perrysburg senior setter Lydia Steyer. “It’s also mentally. She is such a positive person on our team and she just brings the energy.”
Burkey says her game has changed for the better since Pahl returned from her injury.
“It helps me out a lot, just spreading out the offense,” Burkey said. “A lot of teams just camp on me outside, so having her back just helps free up the blockers on the other side of me. It honestly helps me get more swings and just gives me more open court.”
Davidson says she had one instruction for Pahl — but it is likely the same instruction she gives to all of her players.
“I told her, ‘We need you tonight. We need you to play well and we will win,’ and we did,” Davidson said.
A kill by Takats put Perrysburg up, 14-7, in the first set, but the Little Giants outscored the Jackets, 18-9, the rest of the way, getting the first set win on a kill by junior middle blocker Lyndi Wolf.
The Jackets scored the first five points of the second set and led the entire way, closing set point on a kill by Pahl. Perrysburg never trailed in the third set, either, winning set point on block assists by Burkey and sophomore middle blocker Mia Brandeberry.
A kill by Pahl gave the Jackets an insurmountable 19-7 fourth set lead, and although they let the Little Giants close to within five, 15-10, Burkey’s kill finished match point.
The Little Giants, who started the season 2-3, see their season end at 20-4. Ross coach Lindi Cahill said that first win over Perrysburg set the tone for the season, giving her team the confidence it needed.
“We’ve shown a lot of growth from our fifth match to now,” Cahill said. “I think we showed our youth a little bit tonight, but I can’t take away all of the really fine performances we’ve had all year-long and we’ve had a lot.”
Perrysburg, a defending Division I state semifinalist, takes its 17-7 record into Wednesday’s 6 p.m. district final at H-L against Clay.
Clay (14-10) took down NLL Buckeye Division champion Anthony Wayne (21-3) in four sets, 22-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-22, in the first district semifinal at H-L Monday.
Davidson believes, from what she saw against the Little Giants, her team will be prepared for the Eagles.
“Obviously, the last couple years we’ve down well in the tournament so the girls are prepared, they know what they want, they know how to get there,” Davidson said.
Davidson said the Jackets are 100% healthy and may be playing their best volleyball when it counts the most. Burkey and Steyer say that was visible Monday.
“I really think we stepped up our communication tonight,” Burkey said. “We’re focusing on being aggressive and we obviously want more aces over errors and we really preach about that all the time. I think we did a very good job tonight with our passing, too.”
Steyer added, “I just think we’re playing more as a team and I think we’re starting to play for our seniors more as well. We’re bonding together to form just a great team—better than we were in the beginning.”
