(Photo by Greg Hall) Millington’s Hailey Crump bumps the volleyball Thursday during the Cardinals 3-2 district title game loss to Brown City at Vassar High School.
North Branch 3, Goodrich 0 (finals)
North Branch beat Goodrich Thursday to qualify for the regional tournament for the 15th year in a row.
“We played our best match of the season (Thursday),” said North Branch coach Jim Fish. “Our program goals never change and this team earned the right to call themselves champions, winning (Blue Water Area Conference) and district titles.”
The Broncos beat Goodrich 3-0 by scores of 25-17, 25-21, 25-13 in the district championship and will face the winner of the Armada district, either Armada or Almont. That game occurred Friday evening after this edition went to press. The Broncos and Armada district champion will play at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the first Ortonville-Brandon regional semifinal.
Breann June (11), Hannah Farnsworth (10) and Quinn Peterson (9) led the Broncos in kills, respectively. Charlise Hyde contributed 17 digs while McKayla Coutcher paced the North Branch passing attack with 24 assists.
North Branch earned a spot in the district finals by defeating Lake Fenton 25-10, 25-14, 25-19 in Tuesday’s semifinals.
In that match, June had 11 kills and 11 digs, Farnsworth slammed 10 kills and Peterson delivered eight. Hyde had a team-best 14 digs.
Division 2
(at Frankenmuth)
Birch Run 3, Frankenmuth 0 (finals)
Frankenmuth lost to Birch Run Thursday in a district championship match by scores of 25-12, 25-16, 25-21.
The Eagles season ended with a record of 25-12-5.
“I could not be more proud of this group of incredible young ladies that I have had the pleasure of coaching this season,” said Frankenmuth coach Shelley Conrad. “Our five seniors will most definitely be missed but the Eagles sub-varsity teams have had much success this season and there are talented plyers rising up the ranks.”
Brooklin Karwat had nine kills and18 digs to lead the Eagles while Emma Kerkau added five kills, Jordyn Conrad tallied 24 assists and Chelsea Merkiel and Danielle Rummel had 18 and 12 digs respectively.
On Tuesday, Frankenmuth defeated Carrollton 3-0 in the district semifinals as Karwat led the team in kills (11), Conrad in assists (29) and Courtney Palmer in digs (13).
Birch Run will face Owosso at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the first semifinal of the Owosso regional.
Division 3 (at Reese)
Saginaw Valley Lutheran 3, Reese 0 (semifinals)
Reese fell victim to one of the top teams Division in Wednesday’s district semifinal, falling to Saginaw Valley Lutheran 3-0.
The Chargers, who finished the season as an honorable mention team in the Division 3 top 10 rankings, won by scores of 26-24, 25-14, 25-16.
Maddi Osantowski led Reese with 15 kills and 11 digs while Aydan Dalak added 17 assists, two blocks and eight digs, Audrey Nelson tallied four kills and Josie Johnson contributed 14 digs.
On Thursday, the Chargers defeated St. Charles 3-2 to advance to regional competition at Unionville-Sebewaing High School, where they will take on the host Patriots at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Division 3 (at Vassar)
Brown City 3, Millington 2 (finals)
Millington’s season ended with a record of 22-15-10.
The Cardinals earned a spot in the district finals by downing Otisville-LakeVille 3-0 in Wednesday’s semifinal round.
In that match, Millington was led by Nevaeh Hendricks who had a well-balanced game with six kills, 14 assists, 13 digs and four aces. Kate Cooper had eight kills, 10 assists and four aces, Hailey Crump contributed eight kills and 12 digs, Darrien Roberts made 16 digs and Austin Palmer had nine blocks.
Brown City advances to the Unionville-Sebewaing Area regional where it will face Byron in the 8 p.m. second semifinal Tuesday.
