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Ridge advances to regional final in D4
Ridge advances to regional final in D4
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Mineral Ridge’s Lea Whitmer (5) makes a play on the ball during a Division IV regional volleyball semifinal Thursday against Jackson-Milton at Solon High School. The Rams downed the BlueJays, 3-0, to advance to the regional final on Saturday against Tuscarawas Central Catholic in Solon.
SOLON
It took five sets the last time Jackson-Milton and Mineral Ridge met in the Inter Tri-County League regular season. The BlueJays prevailed.
“Some of my girls had more errors than kills in that game,” Rams coach Jennifer Staunton said.
With more on the line in the Division IV regional semifinals on Thursday, Mineral Ridge improved and swept their border district 25-20, 25-22 and 25-22.
“We stepped up a lot more than we usually do,” said Katie Fife, who tallied nine kills.
Back when they met earlier in the year, luck was on the BlueJays’ side, according to their coach Sue Prozy.
“I felt like things fell a little more our side that night,” she said. “Maybe we didn’t have those same kind of things happening tonight.”
Even though Mineral Ridge won all three games, they really could’ve gone either way. Jackson-Milton led for the first five points of game one, but as the Rams found their groove — they had the advantage. But, the BlueJays always stuck within at least six points.
Mineral Ridge never trailed in the second game and really got a boost when Abby Riffee landed three straight aces. She finished with four and added 26 digs.
“I was focused,” the senior said. “Serving is our first line of offense so I did what I had to do.”
Riffee stands 9 inches beneath Fife, she is just 5-foot-1, while Fife is 5-10. But the pair makes up perhaps the best tandem in the region, according to Staunton.
“Abby is the best passer, in my opinion, in the three-county area,” Staunton said. “Maybe the best player. She just runs everything out there. She’s just a good, all-around athlete even with her size.”
On the other hand, size is Fife’s biggest asset.
“She can get up so darn high,” Staunton said. “She can really put it down, that’s her bread and butter.”
After a rally that went from one side to the other 13 times in game three, the point eventually went to the Rams giving them a 12-11 lead. Then, the BlueJays held the lead until Fife asserted her height. She collected back-to-back kills that got momentum back on her side to tie it at 17. The Rams emerged with the victory when McKenzie Garland spiked the final point. They face Tuscarawas Central Catholic on Saturday at 2 p.m. for the regional championship.
“It feels amazing to know that it’s here, and we’re here,” Fife said. “We have a chance to go [all the way.]”
Paije Kiraly paced Jackson-Milton with 12 kills and 11 blocks, while Maddy Tomaino added 14 digs.