Local Sports Journal
Western Michigan Christian, led by senior Maria Ma, captured a three-set victory on Tuesday night to advance to the next round of the Class C district volleyball tournament.
The Warriors moved into Thursday’s district semifinal against Muskegon Heights Academy with a 25-10, 25-18, 25-15 victory over North Muskegon.
En route to the victory, Ma set a school record with 30 kills in the three-set match. That broke the previous mark of 25, which Coach Ed Bailey said also belonged to Ma.
Ashly Schuitema added seven kills and drew the praise of Bailey.
“Early on it was, ‘get the ball to Maria, get the ball to Maria,'” Bailey said. “Now we’re getting the ball to Ashly. She is coming on strong at the right time.”
WMC was not seriously threatened in any of the three games, although NM did race to an early five-point lead in the second set.
But the Warriors (29-12-2) regrouped and stormed to the victory behind the leadership of Mas’s powerful kills.
Schuitema also had five aces. Ma had four and Katie South had two.
Schuitema had 16 digs and Ma had 10. Oosterhouse had 35 assists for WMC.
