Grand Rapids Christian gets challenge from Schoolcraft in PC Invite final
It can get lonely at the top. The Grand Rapids Christian Eagles closed out the 2018 season by not dropping a set in the entire Division 2 postseason on its way to a state championship. Coming into 2019, the Eagles…
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Continue ReadingIt can get lonely at the top.
The Grand Rapids Christian Eagles closed out the 2018 season by not dropping a set in the entire Division 2 postseason on its way to a state championship.
Coming into 2019, the Eagles were the clear preseason favorite to repeat and not much has happened to change that, as they are currently our top-ranked team in Division 2.
However, GRC has still gotten some challenges along the way. The Eagles suffered a loss to Hudsonville two weeks ago and they were given a scare on Saturday in the finals of the Portage Central Invitational, going three sets with Schoolcraft before coming away with the title.
“We’ve had some easy wins this year, so I think the girls are still adapting when they do get challenged by a good team,” GRC coach Tiffannie Gates said. “It’s the nature of the game to eventually have some matches that don’t go smoothly, no matter how good you are. We’ve just really tried to focus on remaining together, supporting each other and not getting in a negative mindset during those moments. The girls do a good job of keeping each other up and that’s what gets us out of those rough patches.”
The Eagles didn’t blink during pool play, besting the likes of Rockford, Byron Center, Gull Lake and Plainwell without dropping a set or allowing an opponent to put up 20 points on them.
In the final, Grand Rapids Christian looked like it was going to cruise to the title as it jumped out to a 17-5 lead in the first set. However, Schoolcraft would fight back to cut the lead down to three before eventually falling 25-20.
The Schoolcraft Eagles would carry that momentum into the second set where it took a 7-2 lead to start and eventually got the 25-23 victory. Schoolcraft showed great defensive effort in the set, getting big digs from the likes of libero Kelby Goldschmeding and DS Sophie Ridge. That same defensive effort carried the Eagles to wins over Lake Orion, DeWitt, East Grand Rapids and Portage Central in pool play.
“We were able to win the pool because we played amazing defense and that has really been the story for us so far,” Schoolcraft coach Erin Onken said. “We are learning how to read hitters and play faster. We made some hustle plays today that didn’t even win points, but still just give you that momentum that you need.”
In the third set, Grand Rapids Christian’s hitting was too much for Schoolcraft. Junior Addie VanderWeide had a pair of big kills and sophomore outside Evelyn Doezema had three kills and an ace for the Eagles. Doezema finished off the match with a kill to give the Eagles a 15-9 victory.
The 6’3” sophomore played middle last year, but is moving to outside and her improvement has showed. Doezema has a powerful serve that led a lot of GRC scoring rallies and her defensive skills look greatly improved.
“Having been part of the team last year was one thing, but this year she is really stepping up and being a leader on the floor,” Gates said of Doezema. “She’s like a completely different player. The skill level and the confidence have really just taken a big step forward this year.”
Led on the floor by Miss Volleyball finalist Jordyn Gates (Arkansas), Grand Rapids Christian is on pace for another title run in Division 2. The team is in a similar spot to where it was a year ago, but head coach Tiffannie Gates was still a little rattled when her team had a few hiccups to start the season.
“To have been playing so well at the end of last year and have everything clicking, I actually had a hard time adjusting to the start of the new season,” Gates said. “Going through those normal roller coaster ups and downs of the first month of the season actually made me a stress ball. The girls would just look at me in confusion because this is kind of where we were last year too. It’s a process each season and I think I had to remind myself of that.”
Schoolcraft has found itself at the top of our Division 3 rankings for weeks, but the Eagles are showing that they can play with anyone in the state, regardless of division. Andelyn Simkins is a Miss Volleyball finalist on the outside as well and a dynamic six-rotation outside that is a big-time finisher at the net.
If the Eagles can continue to play defense as they have, their hitting will lead them a long way.
Portage Central Invitational Results
Pool A: 1st. Grand Rapids Christian, 2nd. Byron Center, 3rd. Rockford, 4th. Gull Lake, 5th. Plainewell
Pool B: 1st. Schoolcraft, 2nd. Lake Orion, 3rd. DeWitt, 4th. Portage Central, 5th. East Grand Rapids
Crossover Results
Grand Rapids Christian def. Schoolcraft 25-20, 23-25, 15-9
Byron Center def. Lake Orion 25-19, 25-21
DeWitt def. Rockford 25-19, 26-24
Portage Central def. Gull Lake 25-10, 25-23
East Grand Rapids def. Plainwell 25-19, 25-20