Lexi Denny
FRANKLIN — Columbus North’s quest to win its first volleyball sectional title in school history came up a little short Saturday.
After winning the first two sets against host Franklin, the Grizzly Cubs came storming back to post a 22-25, 22-25, 25-21, 26-24, 15-7 semifinal victory. Franklin went on to win the sectional title with a three-set win against East Central Saturday evening.
“We struggled a little bit more in serve-receive today than we did some other times,” North coach Sarah Stair said. “But we played the first four sets of really strong, competitive volleyball, some of the best that I’ve seen us all season. I think ultimately, our girls started to play a little bit more timid as the fourth and fifth sets went on, and I think that was another factor in terms of how it ended.”
The Bull Dogs (19-12) battled the Grizzly Cubs (25-7) for most of the third and all of the fourth set before Franklin controlled the fifth.
“There were some very key officiating errors at points in the match, and I will never blame officials, but it definitely turned the tide of momentum, which became difficult at the end of the third and fourth sets,” Stair said.
Lexi Denny recorded 43 assists and three aces, and Morgan Osborn notched 26 digs and three aces to lead North. Tania Maldonado pounded 14 kills, and Karen Dutro had three solo and three assist blocks.
Also for the Bull Dogs, Dutro tallied 13 kills, Sydney Ousley added 11 kills, Elaina Penrod posted two solo blocks and Maldonado had one solo and one assist block. Denny notched 19 digs, Kyndal Wheeler added nine digs and Khloe Blackwell served two aces.
North had beaten Franklin in four sets during the final week of the regular season. The Bull Dogs’ 19 wins were the most since they went 20-14 in the 2014 season.
“I am incredibly proud of them,” Stair said. “I am very happy with the season we had this year. They came out, and they worked hard. They stayed focused, they did the things I asked them to do and it it was a really fantastic season overall.”
