John Raffel
Sports Scene
CLASS A
Rockford, once it got to the quarterfinals, had a relatively easy ride to the state title. It beat Gull Lake 3-1 in the quarterfinals, Bedford 3-0 in the semifinals, and Lake Orion 3-0 in the finals.
Okemos and Mason both lost in the regional semifinals after winning district titles.
CLASS B
Fruitport defeated Tecumseh 25-11, 25-20, 25-19 in the title match.
Frankenmuth won a regional title by edging North Branch 3-2 in the regional finals. It lost to Marysville in four games in the quarterfinals, ending the season at 53-10-3. The Eagles had eight seniors, including attacker Emily Wee.
CLASS C
With another point here and another point there, it could have been Valley Lutheran holding the Class C volleyball state trophy instead of Morley Stanwood.
The Mohawks posted a victory over Charlevoix in the semifinal, and another victory over defending Class C state champ St. Mary Catholic Central in the finals. Before those two games, though, they survived a major scare against the Valley Lutheran Chargers in the quarterfinals at St. Louis.
Valley Lutheran took the first two games from the Mohawks 25-21, 25-23. Morley Stanwood came back with 25-15, 25-20 wins to send it to the fifth game. Morley Stanwood pulled out the fifth game 15-13.
It was the scariest match Morley Stanwood had had since the district finals, when Shelby took the Mohawks to five games before Morley Stanwood earned the decisive win 15-9. Morley Stanwood beat Beal City in a regional semifinal 3-0.
Sarah Appold and Katie Hackman led Valley Lutheran to its first quarterfinal appearance since 1983 and a final record of 39-18-3.
Valley Lutheran’s regional was actually easier than its district. In the regional, it beat both Marlette and Unionville-Sebewaing 3-0.
In the district finals, Valley Lutheran sneaked past Reese in five games. Their district semifinal against New Lothrop also went to five games.
Pewamo-Westphalia fell in the regional semi-finals.
CLASS D
St. Philip Catholic Central prevailed in the title match over Tri-Unity Christian 25-16, 25-13, 25-11.
Sacred Heart Academy and Michigan Lutheran Seminary won district titles.