LocalSportsJournal.com

When a train is coming around the bend, watch out.

Western Michigan Christian’s volleyball squad had all the momentum it needed on Thursday night in its Division 3 district final matchup with Kent City.

Abby Leffring was the locomotive in the air for WMC and sophomore setter Bri Warners was the conductor on the court as the Warriors ran away with its second straight district title.

The Warriors started out slow, but once Leffering caught fire killing the ball at the net, WMC could not be beaten. Winning in a four-game match, the Warriors topped the Eagles 26-24, 22-25, 25-19, and 25-11.

Abby Leffring goes for the kill with Gracie Wiersema on the floor and Kent City’s Kenzy Freland (7) and Alyssa Miller blocking. Photo/Krisha Wainright

Leffring finished with 35 kills on the night and was the MVP behind the Warriors district crown.

“We were getting everything up, we were passing dimes, it was so good,” said Leffring. “My team really did make it easy. We knew we had to show up for the playoffs.”

WMC might have won the match in three games, but the night did not start in WMC’s favor. A stingy Kent City defense backed by senior libero Kade Perkins and serving errors, plagued the Warriors in the opening game. But despite trailing 13-7, WMC was able to fight back and win.

The comeback was short lived for WMC as Kent City went point for point with the Warriors in Game 2 as Maddy Mitchell secured the win with the Eagles’ final kill.

“I just said, ‘guys this is a fun game, we don’t need to be stressed out’ because the stress was getting to us with our serves and lots of hitting out,” said Leffring. “But in the end, we fought hard for this.”

Once the third game started, Leffring and Warners came barreling down the rails. First, Leffring tallied four straight kills, giving her team a 7-5 lead. Next, WMC was up 8-7 and the 5-11 senior hitter came through with four more in a row for a 12-7 lead. Leffring added five more kills and then Hannah Heiss came through with the final spike to take a 2-1 lead. Warner assisted on nearly every point.

Laynee Hoffman at the net for Kent City. Photo/Krisha Wainright

“Bri really leads our offense well, creates play routes, this whole season we’ve been pushing her,” said WMC coach Amber Gontjes about her setter who broke the 2,000 assists mark in WMC’s opening round win over Ravenna on Tuesday.

The final set of the night was all WMC as Leffring continued to dominate. Leffring’s final kill of the night was No. 10 in Game 4 and gave the Warriors a 21-7 lead. That excitement was short lived as Leffring rolled her ankle and had to sit out the remainder of the final set.

Even without Leffring, WMC was able to keep the train rolling as Heiss came through with the final kill of the night for the Warrior win.

“Abby is a force to be reckoned with, she brings the momentum of the whole team,” said Coach Gontjes.

Kent City pushed the Warriors all night, digging out monster spikes that kept rallies in the Eagles’ favor.

“Tough one, but I’m super proud of my girls, they fought hard,” said Kent City volleyball coach Vandy Krueger, who is in her 25th year leading the Eagles. “It’s tough, my libero (Perkins) has been on the team all four years, I couldn’t have asked for better senior leadership with a young and inexperienced team.”

Perkins dug the Eagles out of tough Warrior hits and Cailynn Hartzell came through setting up her teammates for consistent hits.

“Defensively, they’re all over the floor,” said Krueger. “They came out after winning a five-setter (Wednesday) night and with not much time to recover, have to turn around and play.”

The win advances WMC to next week’s regional semifinals at Kent City where they will face Pewamo-Westphalia.

Bri Warners sets the ball for WMC. Photo/Krisha Wainright

Kent City’s Milah Mollien (11) on the dig with Kenzy Freeland (7) and Cailynn Hartzell looking back. Photo/Krisha Wainright

Maddy Mitchell hits the ball over the Warriors at the net. Photo/Krisha Wainright

Hannah Heiss spikes the ball with Alyssa Miller (18) at the net for Kent City. Photo/Krisha Wainright

Laynee Hoffman at the net for Kent City. Photo/Krisha Wainright