Abbotsford (OnFocus) – A volleyball season shortened by the pandemic ended its regular season on Saturday when Marawood rivals Edgar and Abbotsford squared off. Senior Night saw three Edgar seniors and seven Abbotsford seniors be recognized for their years in their respective programs, and all eight produced a match to remember that saw Abbotsford win in five sets, 25-14, 23-25, 21-25, 25-15, 15-7.
Abbotsford trailed in the opening set 10-7 before coming on strong and picking up a convincing first set win. The second set was a back and forth affair, and when the Falcons’ Olivia Hammel knotted the score at 23 with a kill, it was Edgar senior Makenna Guden who produced the win for Edgar, serving up an ace.
Game 3 was tight throughout, with Edgar surging ahead at the end behind the play of Kendalyn Dahlke and Guden. Dahlke’s block gave Edgar a 21-20 lead, and once again, it was Guden who came through in the clutch with her serving to move Edgar to the win.
Trailing 2 sets to 1, Abbotsford needed to fight their way back into the match. Guden did her part early in set 4, however, to keep that from happening. Guden led the charge in Edgar taking a 9-5 lead. Abbotsford held a 13-12 lead before one of their seniors took center stage.
Ava Decker scored five of the Falcons’ six next points, including four aces, pushing the Abby lead to 19-12. Abby finished out the set strong, forcing a 5th set.
Decker had 4 aces, 27 assists, and 28 digs to lead Abbotsford.
The Wildcats took charge early in the final set, leading 5-2, before Abby rolled off 6 straight points, with Hammel delivering crushing a pair of kills to cap off the rally.
After Edgar’s Brooke Imhoff served an ace to pull Edgar within one, at 8-7, Hammel came through again. Her back to back kills started Abbotsford on a 7-0 run that finished off the set and gave Abby the match.
Guden led Edgar with 6 aces and 9 kills, adding 12 digs.
Ashley Erickson led the Wildcats with 18 digs and Leah Davis had 20 assists.
Davis added 6 kills, 4 aces, and 12 digs. Pacing the Wildcats at the net was Olivia Urmanski, who had two blocks.
Courtney Biitner had 27 digs for Abbotsford and Hammel led the Falcons with 15 kills.
Abbotsford game stats: Abbotsford Edgar volleyball
Edgar seniors
- Makenna Guden
- Jasmine Schnelle
- Olivia Urmanski
Abbotsford seniors
- Ava Decker
- Amber Vanluven
- Kaylee Boller
- Mya Ruesch
- Catie Clement
- Shanna Kalepp
- Courtney Biitner
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
