Timothy Christian slips past Latin in 3 games
Overcoming an opening-game setback and the out-worldly performance by Catie Cronister, Timothy Christian advanced to its second consecutive sectional final with a 16-25, 25-18, 27-25 decision over Latin at Guerin Prep High School on Tuesday night.
With the score tied at 25 in the deciding game, Ava Venema's kill gave the Trojans the lead before Dani VanLaten ended the match with a spike.
"That felt really good,'" VanLaten said. "I was a little nervous going up, I was hoping she wouldn't block me. I tried to place it around her and it worked. That was the best match of the season, that was so much fun."
The outset of the Class 2A sectional semifinal wasn't too enjoyable for Timothy Christian (34-4) thanks to Cronister, who totaled 10 kills, 2 blocks and a pair of aces as the Romans led the entire way in Game 1. The senior finished with 28 kills and 5 aces.
"Catie is phenomenal," said Timothy Christian coach Scott Piersma, whose team also beat Latin twice during the regular season, the last coming on Oct. 20. "We've played her for the past three years. Having to go up against her, she is the real deal, an absolute great player.
"We got scared (in the opening game) and I was worried about that. She pounds the ball so hard and you block it or good luck. And her serve is great. It's a credit to our girls that we regrouped. They calmed down, got zoned in and it was nice to get a jump in Game 2."
Indeed, the Trojans built a 10-5 advantage in the second game and never trailed the rest of the way. Kendra Teune produced 4 kills, Ava Venema had 2 kills and 5 service points and Zoe Stanton contributed 5 service points.
Latin (30-8) led 9-4 in the finale before Timothy Christian fought back, eventually knotting the score at 11 apiece. That was one of 7 ties in the third game.
"We beat them twice this season, but they came out strong," VanLaten said. "That was very intense. You get a little nervous sometimes, but it's fun, every point counts."
On Thursday the Trojans will go for their second sectional championship in program history, with the other coming back in 2011. Last fall the squad, which is riding an 11-match winning streak, lost to Montini while competing in Class 3A.
"It's a big thing for our girls," Piersma said about his squad, which has only four seniors on the roster. "In the history of our school, we've only won one sectional championship and never made it to state. To follow up last year, that is huge for the girls and a big thing for our school. Last year we went 32-3 and for the girls to respond this year, to be 34-4 and to do it again, it is amazing what they've done."
Teune finished with 11 kills and Venema had 6.