Wynford took the first set of their Division V sectional semifinal against Edison before the Chargers stormed back with three straight to claim victory on Tuesday at Holmes Township’s Dr. Michael A. Johnson Gymnasium.
The Lady Royals opened strong, building a 4-2 lead with kills from Natalie Adams and Brooke Frombaugh. Sydney Holbrook sealed the set for Wynford with the final kill, giving them a 25-22 win. But Edison responded immediately, winning the next three sets 25-23, 25-18, 25-17 to advance to Thursday’s sectional championship against Colonel Crawford.
Wynford coach Donielle Crall described the first set as one of their best in a while, praising the team’s competitive spirit despite their inconsistency. “We came out strong and wanted to play, but then let off the gas and didn’t swing the way we should have,” she said.
Frombaugh led Wynford with 10 kills on the night. Sydney Holbrook added nine, and Cali Holbrook chipped in six. Despite the loss, Crall acknowledged the contributions of her senior players, including Frombaugh, who reached her 1,000th career kill last week and already had 1,000 digs earlier this season. Madisyn Watkins, another senior, has also surpassed 1,000 assists.
Edison’s resurgence began in the second set. Senior Macari Harris energized the Chargers with several kills, helping build an early 10-5 lead. Wynford rallied to tie at 15, with Adams and middle hitter Peyton Werner keeping the Lady Royals in contention. But Edison freshman Reese Wells finished the set with a kill from the right side, clinching it 25-23.
“Both teams were nervous in the beginning and you saw a lot of free balls back and forth,” Edison coach Sean Hoover said. “We did a nice job of getting ourselves under control and, to be honest, we’ve been good at that all year. I was confident the girls would brush it off and keep playing.”
Wells led Edison with 18 kills. Harris and Abby Cloud each contributed 10, while Peyton Bissell had 30 assists. The Chargers took control in the third set, jumping to a 5-0 lead before Wynford tied it at 8-8. Errors hurt the Lady Royals as Cloud capitalized to keep Edison ahead. The fourth set was tight early, tied five times in the first 12 points, but Edison closed with a 9-2 run to seal the match.
Edison, seeded eighth, will face second-seed Colonel Crawford, who entered with a 17-5 record, in the sectional final on Thursday. Hoover acknowledged the challenge ahead. “Tournament time is different and it’s good to get that first one under our belts,” he said. “We had a choice and we didn’t want to play Crawford. But we didn’t want to play Huron. We played them twice, but honestly haven’t played too badly against them. If we play every point for what it’s worth, we can hopefully go there and give them a good battle.”
Crall reflected on the seniors she’s losing after the season. “Definitely talented girls that wanted to work hard,” she said. “A year ago we didn’t even know if Brooke would see the volleyball court. But she worked her tail off and it showed.”
Looking ahead, Wynford will return several experienced players including sophomore Paige Sheldon and junior Kate McGuire. Crall praised their determination: “None of them ever quit, even when we’re down 12, and that’s a credit to them.”
The sectional final between Edison and Colonel Crawford will determine which team advances to the district tournament.
According to Yahoo Sports.