Oops, M-C Does It Again

Britney Spears may or may not be Mabel-Canton (2-seed, 31-4) volleyball’s favorite artist. But for the third time in five years, M-C did it, rallying from a hole at Mayo Civic Center. For the second time in five years, they came back from down 0-2 versus Fillmore Central. The Falcons (3-seed, 18-9) were on fire early. In game one, they erased an 18-14 MC lead with an 8-1 run, scoring 11 of the final 15 points for the 25-22 win. In game two, Kenzie Broadwater and Paige Bennett each had seven kills in a 25-18 win. At that point, FC probably, oddly, needed to sweep. Momentum can be huge, particularly against a squad coached by 600-win Hall of Famer Lonnie Morken. When the Cougars took game three 25-21, the tilt shifted. M-C started using middle hitter Dakota Delaney (limited on the year by a bum shoulder). The experienced 5’9” junior had seven kills over the final three games (zero the first two). Those strong attacks changed M-C. Cougar 1,000-kill artist Savannah Slafter got going. After a slow start, she had five-plus kills each games three thru five. M-C led most of game four, winning 25-20. They led most of game five. A Slafter serve receive-kill for an 11-8 lead was fortuitous. A Delaney kill made it 14-11. An FC hitting error gave M-C the game 15-12, the match 3-2; oops, just another M-C comeback (22-25, 18-25, 25-21, 25-20, 15-12). Stars Slafter (26 kills) and Vickerman (the rare 23-kill, 31-assist night) shone brightly. Delaney (7 kills), Kenidi McCabe (20 digs, 13 assists), and Lexi Thorson (14 digs) were key help. Seniors Broadwater (21 kills, 16 digs), P-Bennett (18 kills, 13 digs), Bailey Barnes (31 assists), Tayah Barnes (20 digs), and Kelsey Berg (11 kills) ended strongly. The Falcons finish 18-10. FC’s six seniors have been in a program that’s gone 92-35 the last four years. M-C (32-4) will re-match last year’s 1A East final with Caledonia (1-seed, 26-5).