North Union’s Journey Blevins (11) sends the ball over the net on Saturday against Liberty Union. Blevins had 22 kills as NU won its first-ever district volleyball title. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
The top-seeded North Union volleyball team has been a force to reckoned with for the entire season.
The No. 5 Lady Lions of Liberty Union, however, gave the Lady Cats an early scare during the Division III Central District championship match on Saturday.
The seasoned group of Lady Cats, though, came out on top 3-1 to bring a district volleyball title to NU for the first time in school history.
Fighting back tears, coach Alexis Maenz said this is where her program has wanted to be all season.
“This means the world for the program and these girls, especially since a lot of them are seniors,” she said. “They came out with a goal this season to be at this point and it is a special moment to get here.
“There are a lot of joyful tears because of the hard work they put into this season.”
On top of winning a district title, NU’s Jordyn Hoffman had something else to celebrate.
She earned her 1,000th career assist on the the opening point of the contest.
She picked up 36 assists during the win to put her at 1,035.
Although the Lady Cats (22-1) took the early lead, the title match presented some challenges.
Libert Union caught North Union on its heels for a 15-8 lead.
North Union struggled to string together any offense. That allowed Liberty Union to expand its lead to 20-9.
Journey Blevins, who tallied 22 kills in the match, sent a couple of heavy hits down on the Lady Lions’ front line.
Grace Brandt followed with a hit and Cambria Skaggs pushed a pair of hits over the net that found empty space in the Lion defense.
NU pulled to within 22-16, but the Lions’ early lead was too much to overtime.
Liberty Union won the first set 25-17.
Maenz said nerves got to NU in the opening set.
“Volleyball is a game of mental runs,” she said. “They got theirs the first set and really took it to us. T
“They were ready to play and we had to match that energy and go beyond it.”
In the second set, the two sides battled for the lead and were tied 14-14.
Hoffman got the momentum in the Lady Cats’ favor with a tip over Lion blockers for a 16-14 edge.
The Lady Cats would extend their lead after a long volley that ended with the Lady Lions hitting the ball into the net.
Brandt picked up the winning point with a hit to the back corner of the court to take set two, 25-20.
The third set saw NU open a 4-0 lead, thanks to some solid hitting from outside hitter Kaitlyn DeLauter.
The Cats held their four-point lead through 14-10 on several swings by Regan Martino.
Blevins gave NU its 20th point after a hit past LU blockers.
Brandt’s ace serve at 23-18 was enough to help NU take the third set 25-20 and a 2-1 lead in the match.
Maenz said her outside hitters kept Liberty Union guessing during the match.
“All three of our outside hitters (Skaggs, Martino and DeLauter) stepped up and listened to what we were saying in timeouts,” she said. “We told them where to put the ball. They switched their hits versus tips and catch them off guard.”
NU took the fourth set with ease.
Blocking by Brandt and Skaggs helped NU grab a 16-8 lead.
DeLatuer and Blevins found open space on the floor for points.
Laney Converse had a long stretch on the serve line as NU sealed its district tile with a 25-10 win in the final set.
Maenz said her team fed off each other’s energy.
“The girls did a great job backing each other up,” she said. “It really took a team effort.”
NU will move to the regional semifinals at Kettering Fairmonth High School.
The Lady Cats will tangle with Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Maenz said the competition only gets tougher moving forward, but added this is where NU wants to be.
“It is new territory, but it’s territory we want to be apart of,” she said. “We’re getting them to realize how special they are as a group and how they can continue to make this a special run this year.”