Girls volleyball: High-profile effort helps Grant past Antioch
Grant first-year girls volleyball coach Michele Keenan doesn't want her team's secrets spread around the county. That seems fair.
But it's also fair to scream about the virtues of the former middle hitter of the team, Hannah Johnson.
Following a stellar 2015 season at Grant, Keenan gave Johnson a chance to hit outside and play the back row as well for the Bulldogs.
Johnson won't see much winter when she departs for college, as the University of South Alabama is in the 6-foot-2 slugger's future.
"Last year, we had some great seniors,'' Johnson said. "This is a fairly new varsity. But we are getting the hang of it."
Johnson notched 10 kills and fired off 5 serving aces on Wednesday night.
No, the Bulldogs didn't slaughter visiting Antioch. It went the distance.
Grant (5-8) stopped the Sequoits 25-22, 17-25, 25-13 in a battle of teams competing in the new Northern Lake County Conference.
"I can't say anything bad about Hannah,'' Keenan said. "I also have her serve receive for us. She's a great leader."
On one of those Johnson aces, the first set was knotted at 16-16. The Bulldogs pulled out the first set with the aid of kills from Ashley Freund, Emily Bringer (7 kills) and veteran setter Kate Kiser (26 assists).
No, not all the Bulldogs top six feet. Take in the junior libero, Katy Fisherkeller. Listed at 5-0, it again isn't a secret that she stands below 5.
"I've been in gymnastics,'' Fisherkeller said. "But I really love volleyball. If I'm having a bad day, it brings me up."
Set two of this match went to the visitors, as Jackalyn Geraty launched three straight aces at the Grant defense and the Sequoits (8-5) stormed to a 12-3 lead.
"Antioch is always solid in athletics,'' Keenan said.
Despite surrendering height at the net, the Sequoits had late kills from Alexa Spokas and Ashley Wright and staved off a Grant comeback.
"We still haven't found a way to finish the third set,'' said Antioch coach Jamie Atkinson. "But I love this group. It's a wonderful group. We will get better."
Antioch had help on defense from Brianna Vettese (13 digs) and Geraty (9 digs). Both Geraty and Katherine Barr both had 6 digs. Setters Kennedy Moll and Erica Gallimore split 20 assists.
The intimidating Johnson made some headway in the final set. She had 2 aces and a kill, and Keyana Linbo added another kill. The Grant lead was quickly 8-3. Another Barr kill cut the Grant lead to 11-7.
And then Fisherkeller went to the serving line for Grant. Kiser, the setter, put on her offensive skills and notched 2 kills and a block. Johnson knocked down another kill, and the Grant lead soared to 18-9. Another 6-footer in Keenan's lineup, Mallory Harrity slammed one down and the lead was 22-11.