GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: St. Phillip outlasts gutsy Oakland Christian for 21st state title
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
BATTLE CREEK — Battle Creek St. Phillip is back up on top again.
Barely.
The unranked Tigers captured their MHSAA record 21st state title and first since 2014 with a thrilling and wild 3-2 victory over ninth-ranked Auburn Hills Oakland Christian in the Division 4 state finals Saturday at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena.
St. Phillip won the first two sets, 25-8 and 25-15, only to see Oakland Christian charge back with wins of 25-22 and 25-22, setting the stage for the fifth set. The Tigers eventually escaped with a 17-15 triumph to clinch the state title.
St. Phillip won 10 of 11 state titles through 2014 only to fall short the past five seasons, as Class D/Division 4 has become much deeper in recent years.
“It never gets old,” noted St. Phillip coach Vicki Groat, who won her 11th state title as head coach. “I’ve been here (at this stage) but these girls have not. I wanted them to experience this because it’s not easy. I don’t think they take it for granted. I’ve had fans come up to us and say ‘so, you’re going to win another state championship.’ I’ve had to tell so many of them that it is not easy. Anyone that watched this can see that it is not easy.
“Oakland Christian is a great team and this was a great high school volleyball match,” continued Groat, who program was actually listed only as honorable mention in the final poll back in November before the two-month shutdown. “The girls were exhausted but they found a way.”
St. Phillip junior Brooke Dzwik was the x-factor, as she slammed 37 kills (92-for-105 attacking) with 32 digs to lead the way. Rylee Altman’s serve was returned long for the final point to stave off Oakland Christian’s comeback bid.
“It was both physically and emotionally draining,” admitted Dzwik. “But we wanted this more than anything and we got this final points to win.”
Game 5 saw multiple lead changes and the Tigers (23-13-0) held match point of 14-13 and 15-14 before claiming the decisive point to add to their storied history.
Auburn Hills Oakland Christian’s miracle comeback cam just short during a week where the Lancers were missing three starters and four reserves who elected not to be tested through the MHSAA-mandated COVID-19 testing program. Oakland Christian dressed only eight players for the state quarterfinals, semifinals and finals this week.
“I am just so proud of my team,” admitted Oakland Christian senior Kylee Page. “It was our goal the whole time to get here and win it. Although we didn’t get the result we wanted, we (put forth) a great effort and I’m proud of them.”
First-year head coach Brian Theut made several changes at the beginning of the season but was forced to adjust on the fly during championship week. His Lancers nearly pulled off the comeback against St. Phillip — the
most successful Class D/Division 4 program over the last four decades.
“I knew if we could get that win in Game 3 that we’d have a chance. I told them just to hang in there, hang in there, hang in there and they did just that,” said Theut. “Once we got to the fifth set I knew it was anybody’s game. We had a great effort. To accomplish what we did this week is amazing (only having eight players) is incredible. Of course we wanted to win, but that doesn’t take away from what we accomplished and everything we had to go through just to get here.
“I’m proud of them because I was a new coach who made changes and they must have felt I was crazy after the first two, three weeks and maybe they still do,” continued Theut. “But they all bought in and we were able to get here.”
It marked Oakland Christian’s fifth Final Four and second state finals appearance. The Lancers also lost in the finals in 2016 when this year’s seniors were in eighth grade.
After falling behind 2-0, the Lancers turned the tide with some fine defensive play and charged back to take the next two sets in narrow fashion, setting the stage for the wild fifth set.
Harleen Deol, St. Phillip’s lone senior, added 16 kills in the marathon match for St. Phillip. Rachel Myers recorded 51 assists and 16 digs and Baily Fancher recorded 29 digs for the Tigers.
Anna Frazee had 10 kills for Oakland Christian. Kylie Morga added nine kills, Page recorded eight kills and 13 digs, Olivia Colletti scooped up 36 digs and Katie Hopkins chipped in with 27 assists for the Lancers (27-5-0).
Category: Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, Featured Articles, High School, High School (M-Z), Most Recently Updated Stories, NOS reference, Prep Wraps, Sport, Top Stories, Uncategorized, Volleyball
