The Chelsea Standard
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Chelsea spikers win league title
By Don Richter, Sports Editor
PUBLISHED: March 1, 2007
Chelsea volleyball captured the title at last Saturday's Ann Arbor Huron Invitational finishing a perfect 6-0 on the day.
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"The girls were extremely resilient on Saturday," said Chelsea coach Laura Cleveland. "They were able to dig deep and execute, especially in key situations with the team needing a great play."
In pool play, Chelsea defeated Belleville, Flint Carman-Ainsworth and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep.
A key victory for the Bulldogs (33-13-7) was defeating county rival Dexter 25-23, 16-25, 16-14 in the tournament quarterfinals.
"The team was excited about a chance to have a rematch with Dexter," Cleveland said. "Going into the tourney we were 2-2 against each other and had just lost to them on Thursday. We were down 11-14 in the third game and Lauren Verardi served out the game to win 16-14. The girls stayed positive and were able to pull the win out with effective serving and attacking during the final stretch."
In the semifinals, Chelsea defeated Adrian in three games.
In the final, the Bulldogs topped Notre Dame Prep 25-23, 25-22.
Leading Chelsea on the day individually was senior outside hitter Ann Kendzicky (5-foot-11) with 54 kills.
Senior outside hitter Paige Denison (5-9) added 46 kills and 37 digs, while senior Hannah Osbeck had 20 digs for the Bulldogs.
"She was very instrumental throughout the day with our highest serving percentage and efficiency and great digs in the finals," Cleveland said of Osbeck.
Senior setter Katie MacFarlan finished with 114 assists for Chelsea.
Cleveland said the Bulldogs were able to achieve two season goals last week by winning the Southeastern Conference (last Thursday) and capturing a tournament.
"We have been in the finals at South Lyon, U-M-Dearborn and Wyandotte this season and finished as runner-up," she said. "It was a great feeling for the seniors and the rest of the team to finish our regular season with a win.
"Teams are playing their best volleyball at the end of the season and it was great to see our team executing."
Last Thursday, Chelsea won the SEC White Division at the league tournament at Ypsilanti Lincoln.
The Bulldogs finished 2-1 overall on the day.
Chelsea defeated Tecumseh and the host Railsplitters, while losing to Dexter.
The Bulldogs finished with a 7-3 conference record.
Saline captured the SEC Red Division.
Kendzicky paced Chelsea with 45 kills.
Denison added 28 kills, while MacFarlan had 91 assists for the Bulldogs.
Chelsea played Brooklyn Columbia Central in a first round Class B state district match after press deadline. If successful against the Golden Eagles, the Bulldogs would face Onsted Friday at 6:30 p.m. The Bulldogs are hosting the district.
The district final is Friday at 8 p.m.
Other teams participating in the district include Fowlerville and Stockbridge.
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