Teri Tune
Sports Scene
The Birch Run volleyball team is picking the right time of the season to get on a roll.
With the state tournament coming up, the Panther volleyball team continues to build momentum.
Birch Run added to its win count this season when it competed in the Bendle Invitational, where they won five straight matches and captured the tournament title.
Birch Run defeated Bendle, Mayville, and Bentley in pool play. The Panthers then went on to defeat Clio in the semifinals and Perry in the finals to take the victory.
“The girls played great all day and were very excited,” Birch Run coach Natalie Cook said. “This is the second tournament they’ve won, and it’s great going into districts.”
The wins at Bendle enabled the Panthers to improve their record to 25-13-2 for the year. Sarah Hartley led the way for the Panthers at Bendle with 37 kills and 56 digs.
“Sarah Hartley is my outside hitter and our number one player,” said coach Cook. “She has the ball about seventy percent of the time and is a great leader.”
Confidence is part of the reason coach Cook says her team has been successful this season.
“This is a great group of girls, and although they are the same ones they were at the beginning of the season, they have a lot more confidence,” Cook said. “They are feeling that confidence now and feel that they can win and have learned how to win.”
Another of those players feeling the extra confidence and stepping up this season is Rachel Kramer, who had 32 digs on the day.
“Rachel Kramer plays on the right side and is also one of my setters,” Cook said. “She has been doing a great job of passing and serving and has been really consistent.”
Also leading the team were Kelsie Sackett with 22 kills, Jessica Konieczny with 19 kills, Katie Dowd with 82 assists, Whitney Kelly with 32 digs, Kayla Maestaz with 29 digs, Marissa Gibson with 21 digs, and Casey Robertson with four aces.
FOOTBALL
The Birch Run football team ended the season with a 4-5 overall record.
After starting the season with three straight losses, the Panthers regrouped to go 4-2 in the final six games.
The team evened its record at 4-4 in week 8 with a 34-7 win against Caro. C.J. Opperman led the Panthers against Caro with 196 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Joe McGrandy added 80 yards rushing and two touchdowns along with 12 tackles on defense. Cody Roe led the Panther defense with 14 total tackles.
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
The Birch Run girls cross country team continued their strong running with a sixth-place finish at the Saginaw County Meet.
Sophomore Allison Dorr finished second overall at the county meet with a time of 20:41. For the season, Dorr has a personal-best time of 20:03.6.
Dorr is one of four sophomores leading the way for the Panthers. Courtney Dykema turned in a season-best time of 21:53.5 at the county meet. Jessica Burgess has a person-best time of 22:36.5 while Kylee Dykema has a personal-best time of 22:36.6