JOHN CURTIS - Daily Union Sports Editor
Cowden-Herrick 8th grade volleyball got a win against Mulberry Grove in the first round of the Sacred Heart 8-1A Regional on Tuesday night, 25-18, 25-13, before losing to Brownstown in the semifinal, 21-25, 23-25.
Prior to the regional, Cowden-Herrick 7th and 8th played a make-up NTC conference match against Dieterich and earned a split. C-H 7th won, 25-13, 25-13, and C-H 8th lost, 13-25, 21-25.
Cowden-Herrick 8th has had a tough season in regards to their win and loss record. But, they were able to still notch a regional win in the first round , beating Mulberry Grove, 25-18, 25-13.
"We had four 8th graders once again," said Hornet coach Angela Jefferies. "But, since the 7th grade has been working alongside of them all season, they were able to play well and help take the win."
Cassie Marts (8th grade) was the lone double-digit performer for the Hornets, serving up 11 points with three aces. She was followed by fellow 8th grader Alicia Hadley with seven points and a team-high 4 aces. Haven Lorton (7th) was the third best Hornet at the line with six points and three aces. Lorton also helped the upperclassmen by swinging for a team-high three kills. Bailey Rueff (8th) had the only Hornet block in the match, while Ariel Heiserman (7th) led the Hornet defense with two digs.
Sacred Heart 8-1A Regional
Cowden-Herrick def. Mulberry Grove, 25-18, 25-13
C-H stats: Cassie Marts 11 points, 3 aces; Alicia hadley 7 points, 4 aces; Haven Lorton 6 points, 3 aces, 3 kills; Ashley Miller 4 points, 2 aces, 1 assist; Ariel Heiserman 3 points, 2 aces, 2 digs; Bailey Rueff 2 points, 1 block; Hannah Wehrle 1 assist, 1 dig; Maria Brown 1 assist; Jensyn Morrison 1 kill; Dakota Fouts 1 kill.
After getting the initial regional win against Mulberry Grove, the Hornets bowed out in a close 2-game set against #1-seed Brownstown, 21-25, 23-25.
"This was one of their best games of the season," Coach Jefferies said. "Playing this well against the number one seed made for a good end to the season."
The Hornet defense kept them in this match and almost forced a game 3. The Hornets got down for 13 digs, their highest team stats. Ashley Miller, Alicia Hadley and Dakota Fouts (7th) led the defense with three digs each.
Once again, Cassie Marts served a team-high 8 points with three more aces. Alicia Hadley once again, though serving less points, served up a team-high four aces. Maria Brown (8th) had the only assist and Rueff (8th) and Lorton (7th) split the two C-H kills. Rueff had the only C-H block.
Cowden-Herrick 8th finished the season 3-17 overall, 1-9 NTC.
Sacred Heart 8-1A Regional Semi
Brownstown def. Cowden-Herrick, 25-21, 25-23
C-H stats: Marts 8 points, 3 aces; A. Hadley 4 points, 4 aces, 3 digs; Heiserman 3 points, 2 aces, 2 digs; Miller 1 point, 3 digs; Fouts 3 blocks; Rueff 2 points, 1 kill, 1 block; Morrison 2 points; Lorton 2 points, 1 ace, 1 kill; Brown 1 point, 1 assist; Wehrle 1 dig; Alicia Adams 1 dig.
Prior to the regional, Cowden-Herrick had to wrap up their NTC regular season with a make-up match against Dieterich. Like most of the season, the Hornet 7th won, 25-13, 25-13, and the Hornet 8th lost, 13-25, 21-25.
Dakota Fouts was off the hook, rock 'n rollin' from the service line. She led the Hornet 7th as the only double-digit performer, serving 13 points. She also dished out a team high seven assists. Ashley Davis followed with seven points and a team-high three aces. She also co-led at the net with two kills. Wehrle was the team's second setter in this match with four assists and led in mid-court defense with three digs. Lorton co-led the team with three aces and also co-led in kills with two.
In the too-quick, 2-game set, the Hornets served up 11 aces. They also swung for nine kills, giving them 19 of their 50 points directly from their own attack.
"These girls have had a wonderful season," Coach Jefferies said. "I am looking forward to next year."
7th
Cowden-Herrick def. Dieterich, 25-13, 25-13
C-H stats: Fouts 13 points, 7 assists, 1 kill, 2 digs; Ashley Davis 7 points, 3 aces, 2 kills; Heiserman 5 points, 2 aces, 2 assists, 1 kill, 2 digs; Lorton 4 points, 3 aces, 2 kills, 2 digs; Wehrle 3 points, 2 aces, 4 assists, 1 kill, 3 digs; Morrison 3 points, 1 ace, 1 kill, 2 digs; Adams 1 assist, 1 kill.
In the 8th grade loss, 7th graders helped, charge back in game two, but still couldn't help pull off the win.
Ariel Heiserman (7th) led at the line with five points, four of them coming off aces. Cassie Marts, the 8th grade service leader, followed with three points and two aces. Ashley Miller led the defense, which almost forced a game 3, digging five balls.
The Hornets did manage to swing for seven kills, led by Jensyn Morrison (7th) with three net points (2 kills, 1 block) and Haven Lorton (7th) with two kills.
"The girls played well against a tough opponent," Coach Jefferies said.
8th
Dieterich def. Cowden-Herrick
C-H stats: Ashley Miller 3 points, 1 ace, 5 digs; Heiserman 5 points, 4 aces, 1 assist; Marts 3 points, 2 aces, 1 kill; Davis 3 points, 1 ace, 1 assist; Lorton 2 kills, 1 dig; Morrison 1 point, 2 kills, 1 block; Wehrle 2 digs; A.Hadley 1 point, 1 kill; Rueff 1 kill, 1 dig.
*Watch for web updates and the daily Union print edition for a complete story, stats, and photos.
