Hatchets lose in semis at USA Tourney

SEBEWAING - Bad Axe got to the semis of the USA Invite last Saturday, defeating Owen Gage (21-13, 21- 15) and EPBP (21-12, 21- 18), while splitting with Hemlock (16-21, 21-12) and Valley Lutheran (16-21, 21- 19).

They defeated Caro in the quarterfinals (25-19, 25- 9), but lost to Valley Lutheran in the semis (20-25, 19- 25).

For the Hatchets, Ellen MacAlpine had 50 assists and 11 kills while Nikki Manenti added 27 kills and 11 aces. Rachel Krulicki had 27 assists, while Erica McDonald added 19 kills.

Emily Sisco had 15 kills and seven blocks, Elayna Wichert 13 kills and 49 digs, and Taylor Braun 77 digs.

The Hatchets overall record is now 13-4-2.

Host USA went 1-1-3 and took second place in their pool losing to Valley Lutheran in tournament play (23- 25, 24-26).

The Lady Pats defeated Kingston (21-3, 21-12) and split with Caseville (3-21, 21-12), Freeland (21-17, 19- 21) and Harbor Beach (21- 17, 19-17).

Brittany Gruehn led the team with 30 points, nine aces and 14 digs while Calie Valentine added19 assists, 19 points and six digs.

Cami Valentine had seven kills, 14 digs and 22 points, Jenny Williamson 19 kills, three blocks and 12 points, Chelsey Ewald 21 assists, 28 points and eight aces, and Rachel Mowry 25 kills and four aces.

Sam Eisengruber had 18 kills and three blocks, while Andrea Vermeersch added five kills and six assists.

Harbor Beach came ready to play, winning their pool by defeating Kingston (21-15, 21-16), Freeland (21- 17, 21-17) and USA (17-21, 19-17).

After a long morning of pool play, the girls looked tired and fell short to Freeland whom they had beat earlier in the day.

For the Pirates, Bri Woycehoski has 21 kills, 24 digs, two blocks and was 21- of-23 serving, while Brooke Maurer had 45 assists, 27 digs and four aces.

Traci Bender had 11 kills, 24 digs and was 23-of- 25 for serving, Kara Messing 11 kills, 19 digs and was 27-of-31 serving with seven aces.

Michelle Talaski had nine kills, 15 digs and was 17-of-21 on serving, while Lauren Waun added 19 digs and was 19-of-19 serving for the day.

North Huron struggled at the USA tournament splitting with Caro (21-13, 16-21) and Garber, while losing to Reese (9-21, 19-21) and Bay City All Saints (19- 21, 18-21).

Sara Clancy led the team with 17 kills, 24 digs and four aces, while Megan Heffner had five kills, 25 digs and seven aces. Catilin Homrich had five kills, five aces and 15 digs. Stephanie Goretski added 23 digs and two kills, Hanna Selaty 22 digs and three kills and Amanda Navock 34 assists, three kills and two digs.

Lady Bearcats take second in Cros-Lex

Ubly’s varsity season got its first wins of the season and took home the second place trophy at Cros-Lex.

After dropping the first match to Port Huron High (16-25, 22-25), they went on to win their next four matches defeating Deckerville (29-27, 25-22), Algonac (26-16, 25-20), Cros-Lex (21-21, 13-25, 15- 13), and Memphis (25-18, 25-22).

For the Bearcats, Nicole Kubacki lead with 37 kills and 32 digs, while Nicole Franzel had 73 digs, 22 assists and was 35-of-35 serving.

Chelsey Pionk had 33 kills and eight blocks and Jennifer White 75 assists and 32 digs, while Samantha Sweeney lead the defense with 78 digs and six aces. Caitlyn Holdwick had 25 kills and eight blocks, Jessica Gracey 14 kills and Lauren Peplinski was 10-of- 10 serving.

Ubly’s record is 4-5-2.

Thursday, Sept. 10

Caseville downs North Huron

The Eagles swept North Huron Warriors in the season opener of the NCTL (25- 13, 25-21, 25-23) at Caseville.

For Caseville, Amber Bieri had 11 points with eight digs while Rebecca Janke added 10 points with three kills. Heather Nowak had 12 attacks with six kills, Veronica Sauer added seven blocks and Angela Hessell had four blocks.

Caseville is now 1-0 in the NCTL.

For North Huron, Megan Heffner had four kills, seven digs and three aces, Sara Clancy three kills, five digs and one ace, and Stephanie Goretski 11 digs, one block and one kill. Caitlin Homrich had five digs and one assist, Hanna Selaty four digs and two kills, and Amanda Navock six digs, four assists and one kill.

Lakers sweep USA

EPBP defeated USA in three straight (25-19, 25-19, 25-18) in this early season Greater Thumb West matchup.

The Lakers were led by Erika Matteson with nine kills, 16 digs, and three aces, while Caitlin Eigisti had one ace and 13 assists. Ashley Hatfield added eight kills with six solos.

The Laker girls played very well and most importantly communicated very well according to coach Julie Gettel. They are 1-0 in league and 3-2 overall.

For USA, Cami Valentine had seven kills and seven digs,while Jenny Williamson had four kills and four solo blocks with two aces and 11 service receptions. Rachel Mowry had five kills and six service receptions, Brittany Gruehn seven points and 10 service receptions, Chelsey Ewald five assists and 10 points, and Calie Valentine eight assists and five points.

Bulldogs top P. Hope

It took five, but when the dust settled it was Owen- Gage coming out on top, winning the last three games (25-27, 20-25, 25-16, 25-20, 15-11) to beat Port Hope in NCTL action.

Amanda Woodruff had 10 aces and 12 digs for the Bulldogs, while Christy Schmidt added nine aces.

Amanda Muntz had five aces, 15 kills and three blocks, Kelsey Quick five aces and seven kills, Christy Schmidt 16 kills, 16 digs and seven blocks, Lauren Mandichsix digs and nine assists and Kayla Montreuil had seven assists.