The Howells-Dodge Jaguars beat Wisner-Pilger 3-1 at the C2-7 Sub-District at Norfolk Catholic Monday night before falling 3-1 to Stanton in the Sub-District Final Tuesday night.
The Jaguars won set one over the Gators 25-17 and set two 25-20 before Wisner-Pilger earned a 25-16 set three win. Howells-Dodge took set four 25-20.
Kalli Brester had 18 kills and 18 digs while Sam Brester totaled 7 kills and 12 blocks. Hailey Coufal and Macey Kulhanek notched 15 and 13 digs, respectively, while Emily Ritzorf registered 9. Tessa Brester compiled 7 digs and 35 set assists.
The Mustangs took set one 25-13, and set two 25-18, before the Jaguars won set three 27-25. Stanton took set four 25-16.
Kalli Brester posted 16 kills and 7 digs while Kulhanek and Coufal managed 28 and 8 digs, respectively. Tessa Brester recorded 28 set assists.
Head Coach Neil VanLengen on the matches.
"Wisner-Pilger is a really good team, and I thought we played pretty well. They served us tough, but we passed well and were able to side out well. We were able to make a few runs on them to get the win."
"Against Stanton, we didn't match their intensity right from the start. We played from behind every set, and were only able to get it going in the 3rd set to win that one. They have a couple of really tough servers, and we struggled with serve receive. When you give free balls a team that has hitters like them, you are going to give up kills."
Howells-Dodge (25-6) takes on Hastings St. Cecilia (19-14) on Saturday in the C2-5 District Final at Centennial.
The Hawkettes lost 3-1 to Doniphan-Trumbull in the C2-9 Sub-District Final at Adams Central Tuesday night.
VanLengen says there's a player from St. Cecilia his team has to focus on.
"They have a 6'2 left handed middle that is going to be really hard to stop. We need to find a way to side out when she is in the front row, and then try to score some points when she is in the back. They are a strong serving team, and play really good defense, so we will need to be on top of game passing, and be very aggressive when we hit to try to get kills."
The Hawkettes may be 19-14, but they are defending state champions, and have lost to teams like Lincoln Christian, Kearney Catholic, and Grand Island Central Catholic.
This is not going to be an easy match whatsoever for the Jaguars, but anything can happen at this time of year, and Howells-Dodge has to think they can win.
The Jaguars have had a very nice season, and to make it to Lincoln again would be a huge deal for Howells-Dodge.
VanLengen says this team has big dreams and goals.
"This team has worked hard all year to not only make it to state, but to win it all. We will have to play our best games of the year in the next week and a half to get to that goal. Moving up to C-2 is a much tougher challenge for us, but if we stay positive, and work together, I think we will have a chance in every game."
Kalli Brester, Sam Brester, Kulhanek, Coufal, Ritzdorf, and others need to play well for the Jaguars.
Hastings St. Cecilia is led by Lucy Skoch, who has 357 kills on the season. She is the 6'2 player Howells-Dodge has to watch out for.
This is for all the marbles. Everything is on the line for the Jaguars in this match.
Win and Howells-Dodge is heading to Lincoln. Lose and the season is over.
It would be a shame if the Jaguars didn't make it to Lincoln, but Howells-Dodge is going to have their hands full on Saturday without a doubt. Hastings St. Cecilia is a perennial power and powerhouse.
Match time is set for 1:00 p.m. at Centennial High School in Utica.
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