This story is sponsored by: Williams-Gray Co.
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
ABBOTSFORD – Thursday’s WIAA Division 3 volleyball sectional semifinal between Marawood Conference South Division champion Auburndale and North Division winner Athens couldn’t have been much closer.
The Apaches held off Athens’ rallies late in all three of their wins to beat the Bluejays 25-23, 25-23, 24-26, 25-23 and advance to Saturday’s sectional final against Oconto at Marathon High School.
Kari Willfahrt had 17 kills, Haley Harman added 14 and Kayla Nikolay had 28 digs as the senior-laden Apaches moved one win away from their second straight state tournament appearance.
Auburndale made it to the state tournament last year for the first time, losing in its semifinal match. This year’s team, with six seniors playing key roles, is on a mission to get back to Green Bay and do better.
“We’re staying at our angles, our blocks have been better,” said senior Kayleigh Kundinger, who had 48 assists. “We’ve been working on all the little things, making everything perfect.”
Auburndale closed out a tight first game with a kill by Harmon to win 25-23.
The Apaches fell behind 7-4 early in Game 2, then reeled off nine of the next 11 points. Auburndale held its lead until late, when Athens ripped off four straight points to tie it at 22-22.
The Apaches eventually closed it out on kills by Harman and Willfahrt to take a commanding 2-0 lead.
Athens wasn’t about to quit, however, and despite trailing most of the way in the third game, the Bluejays rallied. Auburndale had a chance to close out the match but Athens gained a sideout to tie it at 24-24 and scored the final two points on the serve of Lexy Belter to force a fourth game.
“Athens, I give them so much credit,” Auburndale coach Peggy Empey said. “They’re a great team and never let up. They kept pushing and never let up.”
The Bluejays pulled ahead 12-9 following kills by Belter and Tanya Literski before Auburndale really got its offense clicking.
Willfahrt and Liz Breu each had three kills and Harman added two in an 11-4 surge by the Apaches that gave them an 18-13 lead.
Athens closed to within a point twice but Breu ended it with a kill, sending the Apaches to the sectional final.
“The girls have been playing amazing defense and that leads into our offense,” Empey said. “They’ve done a job of clearing out mistakes and playing the next ball. I’m really proud of them.’
Kundinger said Auburndale wants to make the most of its opportunity.
“We keep up our intensity up the whole game and never let anything bring us down,” Kundinger said. “We work hard during practice.
“We know what it feels like to get there (to state) and get torn apart, and we don’t want that to happen again.”