VOLLEYBALL TEAM HEADS TO SEMI-FINALS

The MCC Rebel Volleyball team was looking to advance to the sub-section semifinals for the first time since 2019. To advance, the Rebels would need to avenge a loss to the HLOF Coyotes earlier this season in the quarterfinals. The Rebels traveled to Okabena to take on the 4th seeded Coyotes on Friday night at 7:00 pm. The two teams would play a thriller in what would be the Rebels first 5 set match of the season.

The MCC Rebels started each set the same way in this match. The Rebels would lead 3-1. It didn’t matter if they started with the serve or not. In set one the Rebels led early on, but it wouldn’t last. Andrea Lang collected her 1,000th career dig early in the set and the Coyotes built a small lead throughout the set, with Renea Salentiny and Katelyn Johnson coming up with some big kills. Ava Fisher showed some pinpoint accuracy with a pair of shots, to lead the Coyotes to the win 25 to 19.

The Rebels would reset in the second set, once again building their early lead just to see the Coyotes close the gap, but after a Suttyn Schryvers kill, the Rebels led 8-6. The Coyotes came back to tie the game and take a short lived lead in the middle portion, 13 to 11. It became clear the Coyotes didn’t have a good answer for Schryvers, who continued to get kills nearly every time she got a good look at a shot. When Reese Gilbertson began to score, there wasn’t much HLOF could do, as the Rebels took set 2, 25 to 21.

Set three was a tale of two halves, so to speak. The Rebels dominated early, getting out to the fast lead. Everything was going the Rebels’ way with some great blocking up front by Kat Miller, along with some strong defense by the back row. The Coyotes struggled to get in any kind of rhythm as the Rebels led 22 to 16. The Coyotes began their comeback. First, with some solid serves that kept the Rebels moving. Then, strong defense at the net and some great hustle plays allowed the Coyotes to come back. Salentiny got the kill on set point to put the Coyotes ahead 2 sets to 1.

The Rebels went to the 4th set needing a win to force a 5th and final set. It felt like set 3 was in reverse. The Rebels led early. The Coyotes would have a two and three point lead through the middle portion of the set. Then all of a sudden, the Rebels started to click and tied the game up to reclaim the lead. Schryvers was connecting and Gilbertson came up with some big shots to extend the MCC lead and advantage. The Rebels’ middle hitters were blocking well at the net, which allowed the defense for the Rebels to get into good positioning. The Rebels would get the win, 25 to 20.

The 5th and final set started with the Coyotes going ahead 1-0 but MCC took a 3-1 lead with some strong serving, including an ace from Erynn Rohrer. The Rebels never again trailed in the set, as Calleigh Doeden would play maybe her best set of the season. The senior middle hitter had two big blocks and a pair of kills in the set, as the Rebels were in control. With MCC ahead 14 to 7, Suttyn Schryvers ended the game with a kill to give the Rebels a 15-7 victory.

It was a great battle between the 4 and 5 seeds with both teams having their moments of great play. In the end, the Rebels were victorious. Erynn Rohrer led the Rebels with 4 aces in the game along with 32 set assists. Ava Deacon was terrific with 61 digs, while Suttyn Schryvers added 35 digs. Schryvers led the team in a great all around performance with 20 kills, while Reese Gilbertson finished with 10. The Rebels win puts them in the Sub-Section Semifinals on Tuesday night against RTR at 5:30 in Worthington.