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COLDWATER - In the volleyball battle between Van Wert and Mercer Counties, Mercer County completed a clean sweep.
Defending Division VI state champs Coldwater fended off a tenacious Lincolnview squad in the first sectional final of Thursday at the Palace, picking up a 23-25, 25-12, 25-20, 25-12 win over the Lancers. In the nightcap, Parkway's second matchup of the season against Crestview was close to the first as the Panthers swept the Knights 25-17, 25-18, 25-12.
The Cavaliers (18-5) and Panthers (20-3) face off for the second time this season on Tuesday at Heckman Gymnasium in Ottoville in a district semifinal starting around 7:30 p.m. The Cavaliers won the Sept. 15 meeting at the Palace in three sets.
Coldwater's Mara Riethman (11) spikes the ball against the block of Lincolnview's Annabel Horstman.
The Lancers (14-9) came ready to play and led 5-2 early before the Cavaliers tied it at 5- and 6-all. Lincolnview then came back, going up 15-10 on a Kara Suever kill, prompting Cavs coach Nikki Etzler to call her second timeout of the set. The reset helped as the Cavaliers clawed their way back. Ella Werling served up three aces to get Coldwater into a 20-20 tie, then Mia Knapke added a kill to put the Cavaliers in front before the Lancers tied the set again.
The teams battled to get to set point, which Lincolnview did on a block by Suever, then a Coldwater hitting error gave the Lancers the opening set.
"I think coming in, we knew how good Lincolnview was," said coach Etzler. "We've seen them play Parkway, Crestview and Miller City. They have so many great pieces to their game. Our girls really had to turn it up and be a little more thoughtful on the strategy we wanted to use. I think we responded very well."
The teams kept scrapping in the second set as Coldwater had a 10-6 lead on a Mara Riethman block, but Makynlee Dickinson served up two aces as part of a three-point run to level the set at 10-all, but the Lancers would score just two points the rest of the way. Mia Knapke served up three straight points, then Campbell Etzler served up the final 10 points of the set to tie the match at 1-1.
Lincolnview led 2-1 early in set three, but Coldwater quickly took control with long service runs by Mia Knapke and Brylee Knapke to go up 15-11. The Lancers did not get any closer than two points the rest of the set as the Cavaliers went up 2-1.
Campbell Etzler put the final set out of reach early, serving up seven straight points to put the Cavaliers in front 9-1. The Lancers were unable to get back into the match as Coldwater cruised to the match win.
"Lincolnview kept fighting. We are really excited to get that win," said coach Etzler. "It's a tough win for the first game of tournament."
Parkway's Brittyn Bruns (3) looks to hit the ball past the block of Crestview's Ayla Kreischer.
The Panthers won the first meeting with the Northwest Conference champion Knights in three sets in September. Thursday, Crestview came out with three straight points before Parkway took control with back-to-back kills from Naomi Knapke to put the Panthers in front 4-4. Crestview tied it at 4-all, but a net serve gave Parkway the lead back, then Emmery Temple served up back-to-back aces to extend the lead. The Knights were unable to get closer than three points the rest of the set.
"Tournament is a little different atmosphere in feeling it out in the first set," said Parkway coach Jordan Henkle. "We were confident. We didn't score the first three points, but once we got going, there was no doubt in our minds."
The second set featured nine ties and six lead changes. Crestview led 14-13 on a Kaylee Owens kill, but Knapke got a block for the tie, then a Crestview hitting error put Parkway in front to stay. Temple served up five straight points, with Brittyn Bruns tallying three kills during the run, to put the set out of each.
Kills by Knapke and Colbie Smith allowed Parkway to jump out 4-0 in the third set. Crestview got to within two at 6-4, but Madelyn Stover served up four straight points to extend the lead to 11-4, then Brittyn Bruns added four straight of her own, then KJae Stover served up four straight to make it 22-11. Bruns hit back-to-back kills to close out the match.
"We knew (Crestview) was going to scrap. We knew them well," said Henkle. "We knew it was going to be a battle, but it was one where you have to be willing to play defense, stay in poise, and go for it."
Bruns finished with 16 kills with Knapke adding 10 kills. KJae Stover recorded 19 assists and Temple finished with 10 digs.
