GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Notre Dame Prep outlasts North Branch for fourth straight regional title
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
NORTH BRANCH — Simply put, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and North Branch have a classic rivalry going in the sport of girls volleyball.
The latest chapter Thursday night was another epic battle between the Class B/Division 2 state powerhouse programs.
Notre Dame Prep outlasted North Branch in five sets, 3-2, Thursday in North Branch, posting a thrilling 24-26, 25-23, 25-17, 21-25, 16-14 victory in the closely-contested battle.
The win marked the fifth straight season that Notre Dame Prep (36-5) defeated North Branch in state tournament play — fourth straight time in the regional finals — and sends them into Tuesday’s Division 2 state quarterfinals at St. Clair Community College against Warren Regina.
It was also the ninth time in 20 seasons that the two have met up in the state tournament. The win was also Notre Dame Prep’s 12th regional crown in coach Betty Wroubel’s 26 seasons as head coach of the Fighting Irish.
North Branch won the first set only to see back to take a 2-1 advantage. Notre Dame Prep fought back to take the tnext two sets and a 2-1 advantage. After the Bronchos tied it at 2-2, the Fighting Irish took the deciding Game 5, where Notre Dame Prep closed with a 6-4 run to squeak out the win.
Senior libero Olivia Kowalkowski, a preseason All-America Honorable Mention honoree, led the Irish’s defensive effort that kept high-flying North Branch from earning the crown on its own court. Kowalkowski led the way with 30 serve receptions and 38 digs.
Bianca Giglio recorded a career-high 30 kills, including the game-winning spike. Aly Borellis also had a late kill in the clinching run and finished with 21 kills, 15 service points, six blocks 37 assists and 15 digs for the Irish.
Josie Bloom had 26 serve receptions, 30 digs and 12 service points, Sophia Sudzina placed 17 kills to the floor, and Margo Sudzina supplied six points, two aces, 31 assists and 10 digs for Notre Dame Prep, which reached at least the regional semifinals in 22 of the last 26 seasons.
1996: Lost in district rounds
1997: Lost in district rounds
1998: Lost in district rounds
1999: District champs, regional semifinalists
2000: District champs, regional semifinalists
2001: District champs, regional semifinalists
2002: District champs, regional champs, state quarterfinalists
2003: District champs, regional semifinalists
2004: District champs, regional semifinalists
2005: District champs, regional champs, state quarterfinalists
2006: District champs, regional champs, state quarterfinalists
2007-W: Lost in district rounds
2007-F: District champs, regional champs, final four, state champs
2008: District champs, regional champs, state quarterfinalists
2009: District champs, regional semifinalists
2010: District champs, regional semifinalists
2011: District champs, regional finalists
2012: District champs, regional champs, state quarterfinalists
2013: District champs, regional champs, final four, state champs
2014: District champs, regional champs, state semifinalists
2015: District champs, regional semifinalists
2016: District champs, regional semifinalists
2017: District champs, regional champs, final four, state champs
2018: District champs, regional champs, state quarterfinalists
2019: District champs, regional champs, state semifinalists
2020: District champs, regional champs (still playing)
CURRENT STATUS/REGIONAL CHAMPS — 2020
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS — 2007-F, 2013, 2017
STATE RUNNERS-UP — 2018
LOST IN FINAL FOUR — 2014, 2019
LOST IN STATE QUARTERFINALS — 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012,
LOST IN REGIONAL FINALS — 2011
LOST IN REGIONAL SEMIFINALS — 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2015,
DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS SINCE LATE 1990s — 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007-F, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 2018, 2019, 2020 (the Irish have won 22 districts in the last 23 seasons, missing only in the winter of 2007)
Category: Editor's Column, Featured Articles, High School, High School (M-Z), NOS reference, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Prep Wraps, Sport, Top Stories, Uncategorized, Volleyball
