The Superior Central Cougars are moving on after a dramatic 3-1 victory over rival Munising in the District 101 volleyball semifinals on Wednesday, November 2. Numerous volleys lasted over a minute in each set before the Cougars took the victory.
Superior Central took the first two sets 25-16, 25-18. Numerous Cougars won battles at the net with Riley Moore recording seven kills in the first two sets and Sammy Johnson adding six more. Emily Augustyn had six aces from the service line as SC dictated the pace of the game.
“I thought our first two sets we took command and played absolutely to our ability,” SC Head Coach Kris Bray said. “We had very few errors and we controlled the pace of the game.”
However, Bray said that the Mustangs were able to find holes in the defense and the Mustangs were able to take the fourth set 2725. The rivals were tied nine times in the set with both defenses coming up big. The teams combined for over 40 digs and a dozen blocks in the third set alone.
The defining moment in the set was at 25-24 Munising when the longest volley of the night ended with an attack that appeared to go long by Superior Central’s Alice Hancock. However the side judge from the SC side ruled that the defenders at the net for Munising tipped the ball, reversing the point and tying it back up at 25. Munising calmed down and relied on a block from Dayne Behning and a kill from Monique Brisson to take the set win.
“You just have to grind out the set sometimes,” Munising Head Coach Josh Cole said. “It’s what you got to do to win with using some unorthodox play and take the set that way.”
After both teams’ defenses stood tall to start the fourth set, Superior Central’s Sammy Johnson got into rhythm to form a 12-6 lead. A few aces later from Augustyn and three kills from Moore was enough to win the deciding set 25-16.
Despite the loss, Cole praised the Mustangs for one of their strongest performances of the season.
“I’m proud of them for the way they ended the season. They should be proud for the effort they put out on the court,” he said.
Awaiting the Cougars in the finals are the host team for the tournament in the Mid Pen Wolverines. Mid Pen defeated Rapid River 25-17, 25-14, 25-11, never falling more than four points behind in any set. Service led the way for the Wolverines, who had only 10 service errors on 77 serves with 13 aces.
Coach Emily Kaiser credited the team’s service accuracy and growth for the victory.
“Our team chemistry is right where we need it to be right now, talking well with each other and serving well,” Kaiser said.
For Mid Pen, stopping Moore and Sammy Johnson’s attacks will be crucial to winning the districts.
“They have some good hitters, so we have to stop (Moore and Johnson). Keeping our passes off the net is also important because they have some girls that are just towering there,” she said. “It’s going to be a battle Friday night.”
Superior Central won the only matchup this season against the Wolverines in Eben Junction. Bray said that staying strong against the Wolverines’ serves will bring the Cougars a back-to-back district championship.
“We watched them against Rapid River and they have really good servers, so our service receive is going to have to be strong,” Bray said. “But if we can control the pace of the game, we can beat them.”
The district final will be held Friday, Nov. 4 at Mid Pen with the game starting at 7 p.m.. Tickets will be only available online through gofan.com.
