Ben Murphy
Sports Scene
Midland High’s volleyball team raked in 40 wins this past season. It won its second straight Saginaw Valley League championship in the process and reached the regional final, where Clarkston ended the Chemics’ season in a 25-21, 25-16, 25-13 loss.
“It is tough to lose, but Clarkston was better than us that night,” ninth-year head coach Tim Zerull said. “We had trouble blocking their quick attack and made too many unforced errors for a regional championship match. Getting to the quarter finals would have been great, but we accept the fact that they played better than us.”
Tori Blake led the team with eight kills and two blocks, Taylor Robertson had six kills and two digs, and Mallory Rajewski had five kills, four digs, and 23 assists.
The Chemics topped Davison 25-22, 20-25, 26-24, 25-16 in the regional semifinal, getting 13 kills and seven aces from Robertson, with Blake and Rajewski both picking up six kills and with Rajewski also adding 29 assists.
Midland topped Dow in the district final by scores of 25-22, 23-25, 28-26, 25-20 for the squad’s third win of the year over its crosstown rival.
Robertson had 13 kills, four blocks, and one ace; Lauren Plotzke had 12 kills, one block, three digs, and one ace; and Rajewski had 20 digs and 42 assists.
Midland’s other district wins were over Mt. Pleasant (25-15, 25-22, 25-23) and Bay City Central (25-18, 25-15, 25-14).
“It was a great season,” Zerull said. “We won three tournaments and were very competitive in all of the tougher tournaments we played in. The districts was extra special because we defeated a good Dow team in their gym. That was no easy feat.”
With the end of the season, Zurull bids farewell to six seniors – Madison Hennessy, Lauren Plotzke, Kirsten Kareus, Alex Warner, Molly Zimmermann, and Hannah Zimmermann.
“That is a lot of experience to lose,” the coach said. “They contributed a great deal to the success of the team, and it will be a challenge to reload the production levels with the returning players.”
Robertson (Central Michigan verbal commit), Blake (Wisconsin verbal commit), and Rajewski (being recruited by several Division 1 schools) headline returning players for the team next year.
“We should be competitive with those three leading the way,” Zurull said. “Keys to having a good season next year is to continue to play a team game, perhaps improving our service game more, and playing better floor defense.”