Photos by Scott DeCamp | CatchMark
Through two games against host Fruitport Thursday night, Whitehall’s volleyball team appeared well on its way to earning a Division 2 district finals showdown against rival Montague in the district finals.
Fruitport was far from finished. The Trojans had enough in the tank to complete a comeback.
Fruitport rallied for a thrilling five-set victory over Whitehall, dropping the first two sets 25-17 and 25-22 before regrouping to take the next three 25-15, 25-18, 15-12.
Fruitport (15-25) advances to Saturday’s 11 a.m. finals against Montague on the Trojans’ home court.
Whitehall concludes its season with a 19-22-5 record.
Sidney Shepherd led Whitehall with 48 assists, five aces and four digs. Arianna Black finished with 20 kills, nine digs and four blocks for the Vikings, while Kayla Mulder totaled 15 kills, 18 digs and nine aces. Chase Baker had 13 digs and three aces, while Bella Fogus added seven kills, nine digs and four blocks.
For Fruitport, Sadie Haase had 14 kills, eight digs and five blocks. Gracelynn Olson had 25 assists and 17 digs for the Trojans, while Kayla Kolberg, Lauren Riedel and Auebre Johnson totaled 31, 16 and 14 digs, respectively.
MONTAGUE SWEEPS ORCHARD VIEW: Montague (24-24-1) earned its place in Saturday’s Division 2 district final against host Fruitport with a semifinal sweep of Orchard View. The Wildcats won 25-14, 25-4, 25-7.
Anastacia Trevino had 12 kills to power Montague. Jaelyn Sundberg finished with 25 assists and three digs for the Wildcats, while Alissa Wynn totaled 13 aces and seven digs. Jordan Netcott had seven aces and four digs, while Britta Johnson added six kills.
No stats were submitted for Orchard View.
Photos by Scott DeCamp | CatchMark
FREMONT SWEEPS TRI COUNTY: Host Fremont defeated Howard City Tri County in a Division 2 district semifinal, 25-17, 25-20, 25-19.
The Packers advance to the district finals tonight (Friday, Nov. 4) against Sparta, set for 6 p.m.
Sage Vandenberg had 13 kills for Fremont, while Kendall Barnhart notched seven kills. Barnhart and Carle Bruggema had five aces each, while Bruggema had 30 assists and eight digs. Baylah Parker had nine digs for the Packers, while Barnhart had eight.
Sparta defeated Newaygo in the other district semifinal.
DIVISION 3
SHELBY BEATS HESPERIA FOR DISTRICT TITLE: Shelby swept Hesperia in a Division 3 district finals match at Mason Country Central, giving the Tigers their second-straight district crown.
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NORTH MUSKEGON EDGES WESTERN MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN: After falling to Western Michigan Christian in last year’s districts, North Muskegon was hoping for a shot at revenge. The Norse got their chance and capitalized on it.
North Muskegon defeated Western Michigan Christian in a tough five-setter, 25-16, 18-25, 25-18, 20-25, 15-8, in a Division 3 district semifinal at Fennville. The Norse (22-13-4) advance to the district finals tonight (Friday, Nov. 4) against Saugatuck, starting at 6 p.m.
“This was a hard-fought, emotional match,” North Muskegon coach Kammie Eacker said. “Natalie (Pannucci) got hurt at the end of the second set and we changed around our whole lineup moving Joslynne (Bogner) to the outside and putting freshman Bella Fornaro in the middle and we pulled out a win in that third set.
“The girls played so hard and kept their composure in a very emotionally charged environment. I could not be more proud of how they stepped up and rallied together to get the win. Natalie was able to come back part time later on but this was a match that showed how deep our bench is and how flexible and tough they are.”
Bogner finished with 15 kills, two blocks and two aces for North Muskegon. Allie Jensen had 14 kills and 13 digs for the Norse, while Sami Baker contributed 39 assists, 23 digs and four aces. Jaley Schultz had 20 digs, while Lauren Dahlquist and Pannucci added 12 and 10 digs, respectively. Pannucci also had three blocks.
2022 VOLLEYBALL DISTRICTS INVOLVING WEST MICHIGAN CONFERENCE TEAMS
DIVISION 2 AT FRUITPORT
Tuesday, Nov. 1
First round: Montague d. Oakridge, 25-22, 25-20, 25-14; Fruitport d. Spring Lake, 25-22, 25-19, 19-25, 25-20
Thursday, Nov. 3
Semifinals: Montague d. Orchard View, 25-14, 25-4, 25-7; Fruitport d. Whitehall, 17-25, 22-25, 25-15, 25-18, 15-12
Saturday, Nov. 5
Finals: Montague vs. Fruitport, 11 a.m.
DIVISION 2 AT FREMONT
Tuesday, Nov. 1
First round: Grant d. Sparta, 8-25, 24-26, 25-19, 25-22, 15-13
Thursday, Nov. 3
Semifinals: Fremont d. Howard City Tri County, 25-17, 25-20, 25-19; Sparta d. Newaygo, 3-0 (game scores not available)
Friday, Nov. 4
Finals: Fremont vs. Sparta, 6 p.m.
DIVISION 2 AT REED CITY
Monday, Oct. 31
First round: Big Rapids d. Remus Chippewa Hills, 25-23, 25-12, 25-15
Wednesday, Nov. 2
Semifinals: Cadillac d. Ludington, 12-25, 17-25, 25-15, 27-25, 15-13; Reed City d. Big Rapids, 27-25, 26-24, 16-25, 25-17
Thursday, Nov. 3
Finals: Cadillac d. Reed City, 25-13, 25-12, 25-13
DIVISION 3 AT MASON COUNTY CENTRAL
Monday, Oct. 31
First round: Shelby d. Mason County Central, 25-11, 25-14, 25-12
Wednesday, Nov. 2
Semifinals: Hesperia d. Holton, 22-25, 25-12, 25-20, 25-21; Shelby d. Hart, 15-25, 25-17, 25-15, 25-12
Thursday, Nov. 3
Finals: Shelby d. Hesperia, 25-20,25-18, 25-18
DIVISION 3 AT FENNVILLE
Tuesday, Nov. 1
First round: Western Michigan Christian d. Fennville, 25-13, 25-15, 25-13
Thursday, Nov. 3
Semifinals: Saugatuck d. Holland Black River, 25-14, 27-25, 25-20; North Muskegon d. Western Michigan Christian, 25-16, 18-25, 25-18, 20-25, 15-8
Friday, Nov. 4
Finals: North Muskegon vs. Saugatuck, 6 p.m.
DIVISION 3 AT WHITE CLOUD
Monday, Oct. 31
First round: Morley Stanwood d. Lakeview, 25-10, 25-11, 25-15
Wednesday, Nov. 2
Semifinals: White Cloud d. Ravenna, 18-25, 28-26, 17-25, 25-19, 15-8; Kent City d. Morley Stanwood, 25-19, 25-13, 22-25, 18-25, 15-9
Thursday, Nov. 3
Finals: Kent City d. White Cloud, 25-13, 25-9, 25-8
DIVISION 3 AT MANISTEE
Monday, Oct. 31
Semifinals: Elk Rapids d. Traverse City St. Francis, 25-19, 25-18, 25-22; Benzie Central d. Manistee, 25-15, 25-22, 25-20
Thursday, Nov. 3
Finals: Elk Rapids d. Benzie Central, 25-20, 25-21, 25-13
