Sights and Sounds: Birch Run Invitational
The 19th annual Birch Run Invitational brought the heat. At the 15 team tournament, the competition was fierce. Six of the 15 teams are currently ranked amongst the top 15 between D2-D4. While three other teams are receiving votes in…
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Continue ReadingThe 19th annual Birch Run Invitational brought the heat. At the 15 team tournament, the competition was fierce. Six of the 15 teams are currently ranked amongst the top 15 between D2-D4. While three other teams are receiving votes in their respective division. Utica (HM D1) came out victorious after topping North Branch in 3 sets.
Here’s a breakdown of the teams and players who showed up to play at the highly coveted tournament.
Pool A
Boyne City came out of the pool victorious before falling in the quarter-finals of the gold bracket. Boyne was led by a trio of returning All-Region players. Setter Annabelle Seeley paced the offense between her hitters to great effect. The OH duo of Brooklyn Fitzpatrick and Gabby Musser gave teams constant pressure.
The hosts Birch Run also made it into the 8 team gold bracket. Relying on good ball control and balanced attack, the Panthers made it to the semis before dropping to eventual champ Utica. Leading the offense was OH Sarah Miller – a 2018 All-Region selection – who brought a heavy arm.
Just missing the mark of gold bracket came Adrian. Adrian would go on to the silver bracket semis before bowing out to Cass City in 3 sets. The Maples were led by Day’Anna Marr, a 6-rotation player outside hitter. Marr had one of the loudest pops to her attack of any player in attendance. When she wasn’t denting the floor with her kills, she sent rockets to opponents from the service line. Marr averaged above 3 kills a set throughout the day.
Pool B
Valley Lutheran came out of Pool B as one of the top-seeded teams of the day. The chargers breezed through their pool before falling to runner-ups North Branch in the gold semis. Valley frustrated their opponents with their defense and ball control. Led by returning HM All-State libero Kelsey Vittitow. Vittitow seemed to be everywhere on the court while giving her setter quality balls to run an effective offense.
Frankenmuth had trouble finding their footing in pool play. Going against such defensive-heavy teams as New Lothrop and Valley proved frustrating. Rest assured, the Eagles found their way as a top seed in silver bracket play. Going on to win silver, Muth relied on the consistency of the connection between setter Jordyn Conrad and OH Brooklin Karwat. The duo remains to be the driving force of Muth’s success. Conrad averaging over 8 assists and a kill per set while Karwat brought in over 3 kills per set.
Pool C
Pewamo Westphalia came into this tournament red-hot! The Pirates made their way to the gold bracket with ease. P-Dub brought it in every aspect, the team was perfectly in tandem. Finding offense from each of the 6 options on the court, OH Katie Lehman led the way with 31 kills and 8 aces. Defensively, this squad was another defensive stalwart with MB Callie Smith stuffing 17 attacks and libero Taryn Miller bringing up 52 digs. The Pirates eventually bowed out to North Branch in a tight 3 set match in the semis.
North Branch’s only blemish in pool play came to Pewamo Westphalia, whom they’d seek revenge in the semis of the gold bracket. Bronco’s key to success came from their serve and pass, one of the best throughout the tournament. While North Branch is still looking for their big offensive threat, they make the job easier by getting opponents out of system with tough serving from each rotation. MB Hannah Farnsworth proved to be the most efficient attacker and blocker leading her squad to the final game of the day.
Missing the mark on making the gold bracket were the Red Hawks. Cass City made big moves against North Branch to possibly edge themselves into gold but would run out of steam. Nonetheless, Cass City went on the silver bracket finals before losing to Frankenmuth. MB Hailey Beckrow was dynamite leading the offense, on a .431 clip, Beckrow downed 32 kills. Unfortunately, Beckrow would have to sit out their bracket run due to injury. Behind her was fellow MB Sierra Spry who dropped 15 kills and 3 aces.
Pool D
The champion of the invite were the Chieftains. Utica breezed through their pool sweeping both Laingsburg and Oakland Christian. They went on to win the tournament after two barn-burners in the semis and finals against Birch Run and North Branch both going to 3 and decided by two-point margins. Utica used their experience to their advantage and Sr OH Raeleen Sobetski came up huge! Sobetski pocketed 38 kills in the last two games alone on a .318 efficiency.