Friday, November 06. 2009
Bearcats capture C district crown
BAD AXE — With a dive to the floor, a wave of the wrist, and a poke of the arm, Ubly's volleyball team usually gets it done with defense.
But Thursday night in this Class C district final against Unionville-Sebewaing Area, the Bearcats had their all-around 'A' game on display.
"We played the best I've seen all season," said Ubly coach Andy Gusa, whose squad hung on for an exciting 25-19, 25-22, 24-26, 15-25, 15-12 title-clinching decision over the Patriots.
"In the five games, we only missed one serve. And our serve receive and ball control was on all night."
It took Ubly's best effort to get by the Patriots, last season's district champions who advanced all the way to the state semifinals.
After falling in the first two games, USA could have packed it in. Instead, the Patriots rallied in Game 3, flourished in Game 4, but ran out of gas in Game 5.
"You can't lose the first two, and then come back and expect to dig yourself out of that hole," said USA coach Teresa Rose. "We did a great job coming back, but..."
The Bearcats never trailed in the deciding game, jumping out to leads of 2-0, 5-1 and 9-5. USA actually came back to tie the game at 11, but Ubly's Caitlyn Holdwick finished off the Patriots with back-to-back kills on points 14 and 15.
That aggressive style of play was something Gusa kept preaching to his Bearcats, who struggled at the net in Games 3 and 4.
"We ended the third game with a spike into the net," Gusa said. "After that, I just told the girls, 'Keep swinging. Don't let that bother you.' I wanted them to swing their way out of it — and they did."
Holdwick paced the Ubly hitters with 22 kills. Chelsey Pionk chipped in 12 kills while Nicole Kubacki added 11 and Jessica Gracey four.
After grabbing Games 1 and 2, the Bearcats actually had a chance to make it a quick evening in Game 3. Ubly led most of the game, eventually grabbing a 24-22 lead on a combination block from Pionk and Holdwick.
But USA didn't go down without a fight. The Patriots managed to tie it, and eventually took a 25-24 lead on a Rachel Mowry kill. Ubly's hitting error on game point forced Game 4.
"It would have been nice to just do it in that third game and save all that aggravation," Gusa joked. "We just couldn't get those last two points. It's a game of streaks. It was up and down. I thought USA played really well.
"When we went into that fourth game I could have almost guaranteed that we were going to lose it. The momentum was all on their side. I was just hoping we could regroup (for the fifth game) and we did. Barely, but we did."
USA cruised in Game 4.
"I thought we played a little better in Games 3 and 4," Rose said. "We were going for everything. Nothing was hitting the ground. And we attacked more, instead of tipping."
The five-game marathon was reminiscent of the Oct. 27 match between the two squads. On that night, USA won the first two games before the Bearcats rallied to force Game 5. The Patriots eventually won the deciding game, 15-9.
"It was actually more lopsided than that," Gusa admitted. "They put in their second team in the third game and that was kind of how we got going. They beat us pretty good, I thought."
Added Rose: "We just played them last week, and I think the girls might have thought it was going to be a walk in the park. I tell them constantly, 'You just can't do that.'"
For USA, Jenny Williamson had four points, 19 receptions, five digs, 17 kills, and one block while Cali Valentine had 15 points, seven digs and 20 assists, Cami Valentine 12 points, 27 receptions, seven digs and two kills, Brittany Gruehn eight points, 14 receptions and five digs, Mowry nine points, six kills and three blocks, Sami Eisengruber 20 kills and two blocks, Chelsey Ewald four points, six digs, two kills and 21 assists, Maddy Payton five kills and three receptions, and Jessica Gremel six kills.
After the whirlwind that was the 2008 season, Rose is still satisfied with her young team's performance in 2009.
"I thought we had a heck of a season," Rose said. "We finished in the middle of the league, kind of where we thought we'd be. We made it to the finals of the districts... I am happy with what we did.
"We have a lot of young players. I think the future is bright for USA volleyball."
For Ubly, Holdwick added eight blocks while Pionk added five blocks and 13-of-13 serving, Kubacki 15 digs and four blocks, Gracey six blocks, Stephanie Baslock 15 digs and 13-of-13 serving, Nicole Franzel 25 digs and 14-of-14 serving, Jennifer White 40 assists, 11 digs and 16-of-16 serving, and Sam Sweeney 40 digs and 13-of-13 serving.
19-19-3 overall Ubly travels to Montrose on Tuesday for a regional semifinal showdown with Saginaw Nouvel.
The Panthers beat Sanford Meridian, 25-14, 25-18, 25-15, to win their district. The Panthers have had an up and down season, sporting a 19-27-8 overall record.
"We're not the tallest team out there," Gusa said. "But we have a great setter, a couple of great defenders, and our hitters have been getting better all the time."
The other regional semifinal match Tuesday features 36-18-5 Saginaw Valley Lutheran against Greater Thumb East runner-up Marlette.
Here are some photos from the match...
But Thursday night in this Class C district final against Unionville-Sebewaing Area, the Bearcats had their all-around 'A' game on display.
"We played the best I've seen all season," said Ubly coach Andy Gusa, whose squad hung on for an exciting 25-19, 25-22, 24-26, 15-25, 15-12 title-clinching decision over the Patriots.
"In the five games, we only missed one serve. And our serve receive and ball control was on all night."
It took Ubly's best effort to get by the Patriots, last season's district champions who advanced all the way to the state semifinals.
After falling in the first two games, USA could have packed it in. Instead, the Patriots rallied in Game 3, flourished in Game 4, but ran out of gas in Game 5.
"You can't lose the first two, and then come back and expect to dig yourself out of that hole," said USA coach Teresa Rose. "We did a great job coming back, but..."
The Bearcats never trailed in the deciding game, jumping out to leads of 2-0, 5-1 and 9-5. USA actually came back to tie the game at 11, but Ubly's Caitlyn Holdwick finished off the Patriots with back-to-back kills on points 14 and 15.
That aggressive style of play was something Gusa kept preaching to his Bearcats, who struggled at the net in Games 3 and 4.
"We ended the third game with a spike into the net," Gusa said. "After that, I just told the girls, 'Keep swinging. Don't let that bother you.' I wanted them to swing their way out of it — and they did."
Holdwick paced the Ubly hitters with 22 kills. Chelsey Pionk chipped in 12 kills while Nicole Kubacki added 11 and Jessica Gracey four.
After grabbing Games 1 and 2, the Bearcats actually had a chance to make it a quick evening in Game 3. Ubly led most of the game, eventually grabbing a 24-22 lead on a combination block from Pionk and Holdwick.
But USA didn't go down without a fight. The Patriots managed to tie it, and eventually took a 25-24 lead on a Rachel Mowry kill. Ubly's hitting error on game point forced Game 4.
"It would have been nice to just do it in that third game and save all that aggravation," Gusa joked. "We just couldn't get those last two points. It's a game of streaks. It was up and down. I thought USA played really well.
"When we went into that fourth game I could have almost guaranteed that we were going to lose it. The momentum was all on their side. I was just hoping we could regroup (for the fifth game) and we did. Barely, but we did."
USA cruised in Game 4.
"I thought we played a little better in Games 3 and 4," Rose said. "We were going for everything. Nothing was hitting the ground. And we attacked more, instead of tipping."
The five-game marathon was reminiscent of the Oct. 27 match between the two squads. On that night, USA won the first two games before the Bearcats rallied to force Game 5. The Patriots eventually won the deciding game, 15-9.
"It was actually more lopsided than that," Gusa admitted. "They put in their second team in the third game and that was kind of how we got going. They beat us pretty good, I thought."
Added Rose: "We just played them last week, and I think the girls might have thought it was going to be a walk in the park. I tell them constantly, 'You just can't do that.'"
For USA, Jenny Williamson had four points, 19 receptions, five digs, 17 kills, and one block while Cali Valentine had 15 points, seven digs and 20 assists, Cami Valentine 12 points, 27 receptions, seven digs and two kills, Brittany Gruehn eight points, 14 receptions and five digs, Mowry nine points, six kills and three blocks, Sami Eisengruber 20 kills and two blocks, Chelsey Ewald four points, six digs, two kills and 21 assists, Maddy Payton five kills and three receptions, and Jessica Gremel six kills.
After the whirlwind that was the 2008 season, Rose is still satisfied with her young team's performance in 2009.
"I thought we had a heck of a season," Rose said. "We finished in the middle of the league, kind of where we thought we'd be. We made it to the finals of the districts... I am happy with what we did.
"We have a lot of young players. I think the future is bright for USA volleyball."
For Ubly, Holdwick added eight blocks while Pionk added five blocks and 13-of-13 serving, Kubacki 15 digs and four blocks, Gracey six blocks, Stephanie Baslock 15 digs and 13-of-13 serving, Nicole Franzel 25 digs and 14-of-14 serving, Jennifer White 40 assists, 11 digs and 16-of-16 serving, and Sam Sweeney 40 digs and 13-of-13 serving.
19-19-3 overall Ubly travels to Montrose on Tuesday for a regional semifinal showdown with Saginaw Nouvel.
The Panthers beat Sanford Meridian, 25-14, 25-18, 25-15, to win their district. The Panthers have had an up and down season, sporting a 19-27-8 overall record.
"We're not the tallest team out there," Gusa said. "But we have a great setter, a couple of great defenders, and our hitters have been getting better all the time."
The other regional semifinal match Tuesday features 36-18-5 Saginaw Valley Lutheran against Greater Thumb East runner-up Marlette.
Here are some photos from the match...
(From left) Nicole Kubacki, Caitlyn Holdwick, Jennifer White (10), Stephanie Baslock (2), Chelsey Pionk (4), Samantha Sweeney and Nicole Franzel (3) celebrate moments after match point Thursday night.
Ubly’s volleyball players and coaches pose with the Class C district championship trophy Thursday night.
Ubly’s Jessica Gracey blocks the ball against USA’s Jessica Gremel.
(From left) Head coach Andy Gusa, assistant coach Erica Philp, Hailey Kubacki (5) and Alicia Heilig celebrate match point.
Ubly's Caitlyn Holdwick spikes over USA’s Andrea Vermeersch.
Ubly's Caitlyn Holdwick battles with USA's Rachel Mowry (11) and Jenny Williamson (6) at the net.
USA's Rachel Mowry spikes over a pair of Ubly defenders, including Chelsey Pionk (4).
USA's Sami Eisengruber goes up for a kill.
Jennifer White sets the ball for the Bearcats while teammate Nicole Franzel (3) looks for a return.
USA's Calie Valentine (1) sets the ball for teammate Sami Eisengruber (14) while Ubly's Nicole Franzel (3) awaits for the return.
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Congrats to Ubly, but don't you think they should wear a shirt that says Ubly rather than welcome to the jungle? Pretty classless if you ask me. What was the administration thinking by allowing the girls to take the court without an obvious official jersey.
You know when Ubly showes up you don't have to worry them being classless. By the way who got the technicle? oh thats right usa usa usa usa usa usa. The girls from ubly and their coach represent the community by their actions which is much more important than their shirt.
by the way, what was that technical about anyway? Did someone say a magic word in the USA crowd?
Hey USA, get over it, its done don't worry about the shirts and stop crying.
Nice job ladies!! You guys pushed through it in a great way...remember that for your upcoming games! Way to bring home another district title! Good luck in the rest of your season!!
I don't really think it's classless wearing shirt that say that. Personally, I don't get why they wear shirts that say Welcome to the Jungle, but I certainly don't think it's classless.
The shirts were orange the shorts were black you new they were from ubly and so did we. Let the girls have their fun and don't over react to something so meaningless as what type of shirts they have on.
About the shirts, every year the team has a theme for a fun shirt. This year the Ubly's theme was " Welcome to the Jungle". Some schools in the area do this, some don't. You have to admit thou it was pretty wild !!! Great job girls !
I kinda agree with the shirt issue. Your uniform- which is representative of your school- should have the school name or initials you would think. I even noticed that they don't even use the proper bearcat logo. But, the main reason I feel that the shirts are off base is because of the royalties the team paid to Axel Rose for using his song lyrics. As an overtaxed payer, I feel the school should use better judgement when they design uniforms. I mean come on, spending $200,000 for lyrical rights on a jersey is to much for an individual sport. You don't think they forgot to pay Axel do you? Also, the school would have to guarentee Axel part of the gate for every home game.
Seriously, who cares what there uniform looks like! Get over it USA. Is it ORANGE and BLACK? I am thinking about being a basketball coach and having our shirts say "May the Swartz Be With you!"
Seriously, who cares what there uniform looks like! Get over it USA. Is it ORANGE and BLACK? I am thinking about being a basketball coach and having our shirts say "May the Swartz Be With you!"
