Blue Devils send off seniors with win in final home match
SAULT STE. MARIE – The Sault Blue Devil volleyball team picked up a win in its final home match of the season.
The Devils downed the Alpena Wildcats in four games 25-15, 25-16, 16-25, and 25-21. It was also senior night for the Blue Devils when made the win just a little sweeter.
“Our seniors were big tonight, especially offensively,” said Sault coach Stephanie Lynn, expressing gratitude towards her seniors. “I couldn't be more proud to come into senior night and our last home game and beat a good Alpena team.”
Sault Ste. Marie started out hot, especially up front as senior Claire Erickson dominated play at the net. She sparked a Blue Devil run early in the first game with a tip for a point, followed by a short-set kill to put the Devils up 4-1. The Devils continued to roll and won the set easily.
Erickson was big in the second set as well, coming up with a block that started a 5-0 run, forcing Alpena to call a timeout. The second set ended with Erickson slamming one home on another middle set.
Alpena played better in the third set, taking its first lead of the match at 3-2 of the set. The Sault struggled to set the ball and sent over too many free balls, which Alpena began to take advantage of.
“We knew that their setter is great,” Lynn said. We knew they were going to be tough because of her and because of the fact that you have to respect her attack game as well.”
The Wildcats continued to play solidly throughout the set and got back into the match with a 25-22 win.
Things were not looking good for the home team in the middle of the fourth set as the Sault found itself trailing 15-11 before rallying back for an 18-17 lead, which it relinquished. Erickson ended the match, much as it began with a big hit off a short set at the middle of the front row.
“Our hitters were able to do a good job finding holes in their defense,” Lynn said. “And Kenedy was awesome running our offense. She has become more of threat in her attack game which has helped us as the season has gone on.”
Erickson led the Blue Devils with 12 kills on the night, while Laura Innerebner added 10. Kenzie Bell and Hanna Mauer each had seven. Chelsea McLeod led the team in digs with 13, while Lucy Huskey had 10, and Kylee Pavlat added nine. Kenedy Hagan paced the Sault in assists with 28.
The Sault JV team dropped its match in three games to the Wildcats, 25-22, 12-25, 12-15.
Ava Mayer led the Sault with six kills, while Emma Kitzmiller added five. Sam Grossett had 11 assists for the Devils, while Alyssa Wojnaroski and Dani Bergeron had nine and six digs, respectively.
In the freshman match, the Sault swept the Wildcats, willing the first two games 25-14, and 25-20. They took the third game 15-11, for good measure.
Dani Osborn led the Sault in kills with six, while also serving up seven aces in the win. Addy Roy, had three kills, three digs, and three assists. Ella Rutledge had eight digs and six aces, while Claire Chambers led in assists with six.
This article originally appeared on The Sault News: Blue Devils send off seniors with win in final home match
