Notre Dame Prep sweeps Regina in quarterfinal volleyball match
ST. CLAIR — Notre Dame Prep is on track for a shot at another state volleyball championship.
Senior Theresa Carrier made 14 kills and sophomore Alyssa Borellis added 11 to lead the Irish to a 3-0 victory over Regina in a state Division 2 quarterfinal match at St. Clair County Community College Tuesday night.
Bianca Giglio contributed nine kills and Sophia Sudzina six for Notre Dame Prep in the 25-13, 25-13, 25-17 victory.
Notre Dame Prep won the state Class B championship in 2017, the year before the state went to a division format.
Last year, the Irish lost to Grand Rapids Christian in the Division 2 championship match.
“We played our game,” Irish coach Betty Wroubel said. “It was a long bus ride here. A lot of the girls slept on the way, and I think it took a while to get our motors going, but we played through that.”
Notre Dame Prep trailed only once, 1-0 in the second set, as it advanced to the state semifinals.
The Irish (48-10-2) play Lake Odessa Lakewood (39-12) at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek.
“Our defense has really carried us and done a terrific job,” Wroubel said. “In all honesty, our defense was awesome last year, but no one ever got to see it because we had three All-Americans pounding the ball at the net.
“This year we don’t have that great height at the net, so people are seeing what great defenders we have.”
Going to the final four is always a “great experience,” Wroubel said.
“There’s always something different,” she added.
Regina was a regional champion for the first time since 1990.
“I give Regina a lot of credit,” Wrouble said. “Wow, what an improved team. They’ve done a great job with that program. Hopefully it continues.”
Jenna O'Brien had a kill and junior Isabella Pine served an ace Regina scored five consecutive points to cut the Notre Dame Prep lead to 23-16 in the third set, but the Saddlelites could rally no further.
“It’s been an incredible experience,” O’Brien said. “We’ll be back.
“Nerves got the best of us tonight, but we’re going to come back in the future, and we’ll be ready to go.”
The Irish rode a 12-2 rally to a 13-4 lead and the victory in the second set.
Borellis’ kill gave the Irish a 5-3 lead.
Later, Sudzina’s kill put the Irish ahead 14-5. Notre Dame Prep scored the final four points of the set.
Josephine Bloom served six consecutive points, capping the streak with an ace, to help the Irish build a 7-0 lead in the first set.
Notre Dame Prep closed it out with a 10-2 run that featured three kills by Carrier, one of Notre Dame Prep’s two seniors.
In the other semifinal match, Kingsley (58-7-3) plays defending champion Grand Rapids Christian (44-3) at 6:30.
November 19, 2019