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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
ATHENS – For the first time this postseason, the Spencer volleyball team faced adversity.
In its continued effort to get back to the WIAA state tournament, the Rockets found themselves down on the road 2-1 in a best-of-5 match with top-seeded Athens.
But, like it did so many times last year in its magical run to Green Bay, Spencer stepped up big with its season on the line.
The fourth-seeded Rockets rallied to win the final two games and take claim of a regional title with a 25-17, 18-25, 16-25, 25-16, 15-10, victory over Athens in a WIAA Division 3 regional final Saturday night at Athens High School.
Spencer advances to next week’s sectional where it will take on No. 6 seed Stevens Point Pacelli in a sectional semifinal Thursday night at Auburndale High School. Pacelli upset No. 2 seed Marathon 3-0 just two days after knocking off No. 3 Auburndale in five games.
The winner of the Spencer-Pacelli match will face the winner of the Oconto-Weyauwega-Fremont match in a sectional final on Oct. 27 at Marathon. The winner of that match moves on to the WIAA State Volleyball Tournament in Green Bay on Nov. 1-3.
“That was a fun match to coach, play and watch – two great teams battling for a regional championship,” Spencer coach Buff Heller said. “Everyone dug deep and pulled through as a team. We are so excited for the chance to play Pacelli in the sectionals.”
Paige Johnson led the way for the Rockets with 16 kills and five blocks. Tynae Phillips added 12 kills, Tara Matter had 11 kills and setter Brooke Kettleborough had 48 assists in the win.
Defensively, Alicia Endreas had 41 digs, Marisa Johnson added 30 and Lindsey Vaughan had 21 for Spencer. Endreas added seven service aces.