By Dan Hardenbrook
After topping the St. Ignace Saints in conference action Tuesday, the Newberry Lady Indians Varsity Volleyball team is just one win away from capping off an impressive regular season with an EUP Conference Championship.
Over the week, the Lady Indians moved into first place with notable wins at home over Rudyard and at St. Ignace. In doing so, they broke a three-way tie among the top teams in the league. Tonight could be the night the ladies are crowned champs: They face the Pickford Lady Panthers in the final conference match of the season.
Newberry’s three-set sweep Tuesday, scoring 25-23, 25-23, and 25-15, respectively, was the 6th consecutive win for the varsity squad. The victory was one of redemption for Newberry, who lost a five-set heartbreaker to the Lady Saints earlier this season.
First-year Head Coach Kayla Welker has been impressed by the growth and determination from her squad.
“Our last few conference matches have been against very challenging opponents,” Welker said. “We have had to play at the top of our game to take these last few wins. The teams we have been up against have played with a high level of intensity, keeping matches at a fast pace.”
Tonight’s game against Pickford isn’t just monumental because the EUP Conference title is on the line. A win over the Panthers would also put Newberry in position to be the #1 seed in the upcoming MHSAA District Tournament.
After this week’s games, the MHSAA will rank the top two teams in each bracket, giving them matchup advantages and potential byes in the early round.
The Lady Indians have shown increasing strength and confidence all season.
Controlling their own path, and potentially avoiding challengers–including Rudyard and a Brimley team that took the Lady Indians to a full five sets in both regular season matchups–could be key to making a deep tournament run for the second time in the last three seasons.
To get through the tournament, Newberry will have to outlast six other teams, including Rudyard, Brimley, Engadine, Pickford, Bay Mills Ojibwe Charter, and Maplewood Baptist (Newberry’s final regular season opponent next week).
Welker says that her and her players are proud, and looking forward to adding as many accomplishments as possible.
“We continue to put in the work at practice, with plans to continue improving and preparing for the postseason,” Welker said. The girls are excited, and I’m excited!”
Newberry takes on Pickford tonight with the JV game – their last of the season – starting at 5:45 p.m. The junior varsity squad remains undefeated in regular season play, and plan to wrap up a perfect conference record. Varsity play starts 20 minutes after JV ends.
