Extended runs, strong defense helps
Lady Panthers down Calhoun Christian
in district semifinal match
By Bruce Rolfe
Extended runs, strong defense and a consistent attack at the net helped the Climax-Scotts volleyball team to a win over Calhoun Christian in three games in the district semifinal match November 6 at C-S Jr./Sr. High School.
After falling behind by one point five times and two points one other time, C-S regrouped and enjoyed extended runs throughout the first game.
A kill by Kendal Reitz gave C-S a 6-5 lead, a lead the home team would not relinquish.
C-S extended the lead to nine points on a kill by Adalynn Reeves that gave the Lady Panthers a 23-14.
Calhoun Christian pulled to within 24-18, but a serve error by the Cougars gave C-S the opening game win.
A strong start, a handful of Cougar errors and C-S’ strong play at the net helped C-S secure the second game win.
C-S, behind the strong serving of Ashlynn Gilbert, rolled out to a 5-0 lead and the team never trailed
Calhoun Christian never got closer then three points (11-8).
The Cougars got off to a strong start and were much more competitive in the third set, but C-S maintained solid play and held off a late Cougar rally.
Calhoun Christian nabbed an early 3-0 lead and maintained a lead until Reeves recorded a kill for a 5-4 C-S advantage.
The Cougars tied the game 5-5, but a tip by Reeves gave C-S the lead for good.
C-S did not allow any extended Cougar runs and moved in front 18-9 on a kill by Holly Talbert.
Calhoun Christian ran off three straight points to pull to within 19-15, but C-S closed strong with a 6-1 run.
Holly Talbert had 10 kills and eight digs, Lylah Parrish had a team high 27 digs, Ashlynn Gilbert led the team with 29 assists to go with 13 digs and Reeves and Sophie Braithwaite each had seven kills.
District Volleyball Tournament at Climax-Scotts
Climax-Scotts Def. Calhoun Christian, 25-18, 25-15, 25016
C-S Stat Leaders
Holly Talbert - 10 kills, 1 assist, 8 digs
Sophie Braithwaite - 1 ace, 7 kills, 9 digs
Lylah Parrish - 3 assists, 27 digs
Kendal Reitz - 1 ace, 4 kills, 1 dig
Jane Carillo - 6 digs
Mackenzie Vincent - 1 ace, 7 kills, 1 dig
Michaella Carillo - 1 dig
Ashlynn Gilbert - 1 ace, 1 kill, 29 assists, 13 digs
Adalynn Reeves - 1 ace, 7 kills, 2 blocks, 2 digs
Extended runs, strong defense and a consistent attack at the net helped the Climax-Scotts volleyball team to a win over Calhoun Christian in three games in the district semifinal match November 6 at C-S Jr./Sr. High School.
After falling behind by one point five times and two points one other time, C-S regrouped and enjoyed extended runs throughout the first game.
A kill by Kendal Reitz gave C-S a 6-5 lead, a lead the home team would not relinquish.
C-S extended the lead to nine points on a kill by Adalynn Reeves that gave the Lady Panthers a 23-14.
Calhoun Christian pulled to within 24-18, but a serve error by the Cougars gave C-S the opening game win.
A strong start, a handful of Cougar errors and C-S’ strong play at the net helped C-S secure the second game win.
C-S, behind the strong serving of Ashlynn Gilbert, rolled out to a 5-0 lead and the team never trailed
Calhoun Christian never got closer then three points (11-8).
The Cougars got off to a strong start and were much more competitive in the third set, but C-S maintained solid play and held off a late Cougar rally.
Calhoun Christian nabbed an early 3-0 lead and maintained a lead until Reeves recorded a kill for a 5-4 C-S advantage.
The Cougars tied the game 5-5, but a tip by Reeves gave C-S the lead for good.
C-S did not allow any extended Cougar runs and moved in front 18-9 on a kill by Holly Talbert.
Calhoun Christian ran off three straight points to pull to within 19-15, but C-S closed strong with a 6-1 run.
Holly Talbert had 10 kills and eight digs, Lylah Parrish had a team high 27 digs, Ashlynn Gilbert led the team with 29 assists to go with 13 digs and Reeves and Sophie Braithwaite each had seven kills.
District Volleyball Tournament at Climax-Scotts
Climax-Scotts Def. Calhoun Christian, 25-18, 25-15, 25016
C-S Stat Leaders
Holly Talbert - 10 kills, 1 assist, 8 digs
Sophie Braithwaite - 1 ace, 7 kills, 9 digs
Lylah Parrish - 3 assists, 27 digs
Kendal Reitz - 1 ace, 4 kills, 1 dig
Jane Carillo - 6 digs
Mackenzie Vincent - 1 ace, 7 kills, 1 dig
Michaella Carillo - 1 dig
Ashlynn Gilbert - 1 ace, 1 kill, 29 assists, 13 digs
Adalynn Reeves - 1 ace, 7 kills, 2 blocks, 2 digs
Sophie Braithwaite (2) and Adalynn Reeves (10) go high attempting to block a St. Phil kill attempt during district championship game action November 7 at C-S High School.
(Photo by Bruce Rolfe)
Lady Panthers fall short in what
would have been historical win
By Bruce Rolfe
The Climax-Scotts varsity volleyball team truly felt the team had a good chance to end a long losing streak to Battle Creek St. Philip November 7 in the district championship match at C-S Jr./Sr. High School.
And based on a very young St. Phil squad (one senior, one junior, eight sophomores, two freshmen and three eighth graders), St. Phil Coach Vicky Groat admitted an impressive streak of 24 years without losing a district tournament match could be in jeopardy against an eager and talented C-S squad.
St. Phil held off a pesky and determined Climax-Scotts team in the district championship match in five games, 20-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-20, 15-12 at C-S Jr./Sr. High School.
C-S finishes the season 23-11-2, while St. Phil advanced to the Martin regional November 14 to face the winner of the Lawrence District.
C-S had not defeated Battle Creek St. Philip since the district championship match in 2000 (15-10, 15-12), which Groat said was also the last time St. Phil has lost in the district tournaments.
In between has been 46 straight losses to St. Phil and a two-game split with the Tigers.
C-S coach Angela Gilbert felt her team was ready to give the division 4 powerhouse Tigers a real battle and ending the losing streak to St. Phil was within reach.
“At this point, it’s mental. Because year after year after year, after year we would play St. Phil and we would lose. So getting over that little mental block, because when
something is so close and it’s right there, you sometimes can freak out and then things go array. I think that’s where we have to work at. The girls are mentally strong, no doubt.
They are phenomenal. But just getting over that little hump. We were three points. Three points from that little hump. A lot of fight,” said Gilbert.
Groat admitted she felt C-S had a good chance to win the district championship match so she started researching the St. Phil record books.
“That is a great team. Angela always does a great job with her teams, but this year’s team, from week one at the Carrie Adams (tournament), they were the team to beat coming into districts and we had to battle from start to finish to pull that off and it could have went any way. That’s a great team over there. Great match. I love Angela and I love what she’s done with the program,” said St. Phil coach Vicky Groat.
“It’s (an end to the long streak) going to happen some time, but we’re enjoying the ride and the kids, they fought. It was a great match. I love and respect Climax-Scotts. I love what Kevin (former varsity football coach and athletic director Kevin Langs) has done with their programs,” adds Groat.
“They definitely can’t walk off that court knowing that they didn’t give everything that they had. They fought tooth and nail for everything. Some plays just didn’t go our way. That’s the game of volleyball,” adds Gilbert.
The Lady Panther determination came through multiple times when the defense brought what seemed like certain kills or hard hit balls back up to keep volleys going, finishing with 79 digs.
St. Phil also enjoyed a strong night defensively, recording 99 digs.
“They (C-S) wanted it so bad tonight and they did everything they possibly could,” said Gilbert, who felt overall, her team played its best defensive game of the year.
In a classic battle between the two rivals, Battle Creek St. Philip edged Climax-Scotts in the fifth and deciding match 15-12 to capture the district championship trophy, 3-2.
Both student cheer sections, and fans from both sides participated in cheers regularly, bringing an added level of enthusiasm to the gym.
“I called the timeout and they (the C-S student cheer section and fans) started doing that blue and gold chant. I told the girls to just listen and take this moment in because that’s all you can do to hear the community support. And from the student section to the fans, it’s undeniable how much Climax-Scotts loves our kids,” said Gilbert.
The first game was close most of the way through, with five lead changes and three ties. An 8-0 run gave C-S a 11-4 lead, however the Tigers came back to pull to within 21-20.
But the determined Panthers closed strong with a 4-0 run that was capped off with a kill by Adalynn Reeves for a 25-20 win.
While C-S enjoyed just two early leads (2-1 and 4-3) in the second game, the Lady Panthers remained close the rest of the way.
St. Phil enjoyed a late 4-0 run in the second game to move in front 20-12 and held on for a 25-17.
C-S fought back from an early 5-1 deficit in the third game but ended the contest with a 7-0 run to capture a 25-19 win.
The fourth game was close all the way. The Lady Tigers ran off three straight points to take a 21-17 lead and then the visitors closed out the match with a game ending 4-3 run.
St. Phil led the entire fifth game, but the Lady Panthers kept the game close, pulling to 13-12 before the Tigers scored the next two points to win the game and match.
“I don’t think that I could have asked these girls to give me any more than what they did. Everyone there, including St. Phil fans and (St. Phil coach Vicky Groat) Coach Vicky felt the heart and soul of the girls that night. There was no denying that they gave it everything and we just fell short. Maybe it was just not our time yet. We have grown as a team throughout the season, but maybe we still have some lessons to learn. All I can say for sure is that we were able to walk off that court, knowing that we fought and made them earn every point, leaving every bit of our heart and soul on that court,” adds Gilbert.
With just two seniors (Lylah Parrish and Ashlynn Bradley) departing and the majority of the team returning to join upcoming JV talent, junior middle hitter Adalynn Reeves feels there will be plenty of incentive next year to get over the hump against St. Phil.
“We definitely really want to beat them and I think we know that we could have. It just came down to the little things,” said Reeves, who felt the team had considerable growth as the season went on.
Sophie Braithwaite had a team high nine kills, however Reeves added eight and Mackenzie Vincent seven. Ashlynn Gilbert had a team high 27 assists and Lylah Parrish had a team high 19 digs, with Holly Talbert adding 17.
District Championship Match at Climax-Scotts
Battle Creek St. Philip def. C-S, 20-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-20, 15-12
C-S Stats
Holly Talbert - 4 aces, 5 kills, 3 blocks, 17 digs
Sophie Braithwaite - 9 kills, 9 digs
Lylah Parrish - 4 assists, 19 digs
Kendal Reitz 1 ace, 5 kills, 1 block, 1 assist, 11 digs
Jane Carillo - 2 digs
Mackenzie Vincent - 7 kills, 5 blocks, 3 digs
Michaella Carillo - 1 assists, 2 digs
Ashlynn Gilbert - 2 kills, 27 assists, 12 digs
Adalynn Reeves - 8 kills, 3 blocks, 4 digs
The Climax-Scotts varsity volleyball team truly felt the team had a good chance to end a long losing streak to Battle Creek St. Philip November 7 in the district championship match at C-S Jr./Sr. High School.
And based on a very young St. Phil squad (one senior, one junior, eight sophomores, two freshmen and three eighth graders), St. Phil Coach Vicky Groat admitted an impressive streak of 24 years without losing a district tournament match could be in jeopardy against an eager and talented C-S squad.
St. Phil held off a pesky and determined Climax-Scotts team in the district championship match in five games, 20-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-20, 15-12 at C-S Jr./Sr. High School.
C-S finishes the season 23-11-2, while St. Phil advanced to the Martin regional November 14 to face the winner of the Lawrence District.
C-S had not defeated Battle Creek St. Philip since the district championship match in 2000 (15-10, 15-12), which Groat said was also the last time St. Phil has lost in the district tournaments.
In between has been 46 straight losses to St. Phil and a two-game split with the Tigers.
C-S coach Angela Gilbert felt her team was ready to give the division 4 powerhouse Tigers a real battle and ending the losing streak to St. Phil was within reach.
“At this point, it’s mental. Because year after year after year, after year we would play St. Phil and we would lose. So getting over that little mental block, because when
something is so close and it’s right there, you sometimes can freak out and then things go array. I think that’s where we have to work at. The girls are mentally strong, no doubt.
They are phenomenal. But just getting over that little hump. We were three points. Three points from that little hump. A lot of fight,” said Gilbert.
Groat admitted she felt C-S had a good chance to win the district championship match so she started researching the St. Phil record books.
“That is a great team. Angela always does a great job with her teams, but this year’s team, from week one at the Carrie Adams (tournament), they were the team to beat coming into districts and we had to battle from start to finish to pull that off and it could have went any way. That’s a great team over there. Great match. I love Angela and I love what she’s done with the program,” said St. Phil coach Vicky Groat.
“It’s (an end to the long streak) going to happen some time, but we’re enjoying the ride and the kids, they fought. It was a great match. I love and respect Climax-Scotts. I love what Kevin (former varsity football coach and athletic director Kevin Langs) has done with their programs,” adds Groat.
“They definitely can’t walk off that court knowing that they didn’t give everything that they had. They fought tooth and nail for everything. Some plays just didn’t go our way. That’s the game of volleyball,” adds Gilbert.
The Lady Panther determination came through multiple times when the defense brought what seemed like certain kills or hard hit balls back up to keep volleys going, finishing with 79 digs.
St. Phil also enjoyed a strong night defensively, recording 99 digs.
“They (C-S) wanted it so bad tonight and they did everything they possibly could,” said Gilbert, who felt overall, her team played its best defensive game of the year.
In a classic battle between the two rivals, Battle Creek St. Philip edged Climax-Scotts in the fifth and deciding match 15-12 to capture the district championship trophy, 3-2.
Both student cheer sections, and fans from both sides participated in cheers regularly, bringing an added level of enthusiasm to the gym.
“I called the timeout and they (the C-S student cheer section and fans) started doing that blue and gold chant. I told the girls to just listen and take this moment in because that’s all you can do to hear the community support. And from the student section to the fans, it’s undeniable how much Climax-Scotts loves our kids,” said Gilbert.
The first game was close most of the way through, with five lead changes and three ties. An 8-0 run gave C-S a 11-4 lead, however the Tigers came back to pull to within 21-20.
But the determined Panthers closed strong with a 4-0 run that was capped off with a kill by Adalynn Reeves for a 25-20 win.
While C-S enjoyed just two early leads (2-1 and 4-3) in the second game, the Lady Panthers remained close the rest of the way.
St. Phil enjoyed a late 4-0 run in the second game to move in front 20-12 and held on for a 25-17.
C-S fought back from an early 5-1 deficit in the third game but ended the contest with a 7-0 run to capture a 25-19 win.
The fourth game was close all the way. The Lady Tigers ran off three straight points to take a 21-17 lead and then the visitors closed out the match with a game ending 4-3 run.
St. Phil led the entire fifth game, but the Lady Panthers kept the game close, pulling to 13-12 before the Tigers scored the next two points to win the game and match.
“I don’t think that I could have asked these girls to give me any more than what they did. Everyone there, including St. Phil fans and (St. Phil coach Vicky Groat) Coach Vicky felt the heart and soul of the girls that night. There was no denying that they gave it everything and we just fell short. Maybe it was just not our time yet. We have grown as a team throughout the season, but maybe we still have some lessons to learn. All I can say for sure is that we were able to walk off that court, knowing that we fought and made them earn every point, leaving every bit of our heart and soul on that court,” adds Gilbert.
With just two seniors (Lylah Parrish and Ashlynn Bradley) departing and the majority of the team returning to join upcoming JV talent, junior middle hitter Adalynn Reeves feels there will be plenty of incentive next year to get over the hump against St. Phil.
“We definitely really want to beat them and I think we know that we could have. It just came down to the little things,” said Reeves, who felt the team had considerable growth as the season went on.
Sophie Braithwaite had a team high nine kills, however Reeves added eight and Mackenzie Vincent seven. Ashlynn Gilbert had a team high 27 assists and Lylah Parrish had a team high 19 digs, with Holly Talbert adding 17.
District Championship Match at Climax-Scotts
Battle Creek St. Philip def. C-S, 20-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-20, 15-12
C-S Stats
Holly Talbert - 4 aces, 5 kills, 3 blocks, 17 digs
Sophie Braithwaite - 9 kills, 9 digs
Lylah Parrish - 4 assists, 19 digs
Kendal Reitz 1 ace, 5 kills, 1 block, 1 assist, 11 digs
Jane Carillo - 2 digs
Mackenzie Vincent - 7 kills, 5 blocks, 3 digs
Michaella Carillo - 1 assists, 2 digs
Ashlynn Gilbert - 2 kills, 27 assists, 12 digs
Adalynn Reeves - 8 kills, 3 blocks, 4 digs
