BRIDGEWATER – For a shot at being remembered, generally it’s price attempting one thing new.
Joseph Case Excessive Faculty’s volleyball squad determined to make the leap to Div. 3, and it’s paying dividends.
Senior exterior hitter Madilyn Botelho (16 kills, 14 digs, three aces) and freshman Kayla Dowdell (10 kills, three blocks) led a whole crew effort Wednesday, because the third-seeded Cardinals punched their first ticket to a title match since 2022 with a memorable 3-1 victory over reigning state champion and No. 2 Medfield, 3-1.
Confronted with a perennial juggernaut, the Cardinals confirmed no concern to begin, opening with a 7-0 run to kick off the match. They’d stave off a rally, as freshman Willow Andree completed issues with an ace to win the set, 25-11, and supply Case a 1-0 lead.
The second body started with each colleges buying and selling factors to begin. Then the younger stars stepped up once more for Case, as the college rattled off 4 straight to grab a 9-4 lead within the stanza. The benefit solely grew from there.
Trying to present her crew a convincing edge within the match, freshman Kayla Dowdell completed off a kill in commanding style to clinch the set, 25-10. All of the sudden, the Cardinals had the state champions up in opposition to the proverbial wall, main 2-0.
“I used to be undoubtedly not anticipating that in any respect,” stated Dowdell with amusing. “I used to be nervous coming in however I additionally was very excited. I by no means thought we’d be that far forward … I didn’t know we have been going to go that arduous, however we did.”
Nonetheless, the Warriors (19-5) didn’t give up. Led by key gamers Kendall Larkin and Ava Pender, Medfield was in a position to win the third set with authority, 25-14. All of the sudden, it felt like momentum was starting to swing.
“We didn’t have numerous tried spikes within the third,” stated Case coach Brendan Kelly. “I turned to my assistant, and stated, ‘What number of kills or makes an attempt?’ We acquired actually tender on numerous that stuff, so (the important thing) was getting again to that.”
In a pivotal fourth set, the colleges traded punches. Dowdell completed off a kill, as Case jumped forward, 5-4. The Cardinals went on a 10-5 run, pushing their result in 14-9 within the body.
However then Medfield answered, embarking on a 6-0 run of its personal to leap forward, 15-14.
With the match hanging within the steadiness, Kelly’s crew responded with a haymaker. Dowdell took issues over late and spiked residence one other kill to present Case a 20-15 lead.
In search of the dagger, Dowdell lifted a volley over the web. Because the Warriors tried to return, the whistle sounded for a violation name, and the Cardinals started to rejoice. As soon as once more, they have been certain for the state title match.
“We went to the (Div. 4) Remaining 4 final 12 months, and bumped into that Ipswich squad,” stated Kelly. “We knew Div. 4 just like the again of our palms, so we moved as much as Div. 3, (had) to navigate a complete new group of groups, together with these guys because the defending champs. So yeah, (that is nice).”
Case will now try to win its first state title since 2016. Botelho was a member of the final Cardinals crew to succeed in a championship match again in 2022. Mockingly, she and her teammates will now look to recover from the hurdle in opposition to one other faculty that opted to make the leap to Div. 3. That may be top-seeded Bellingham.
“I believe it’s going to be a cool storyline,” Botelho stated. “I knew coming from Div. 4, it was going to be lots totally different. Div. 4 undoubtedly misplaced some energy, shedding Case and Bellingham. However I believe all of the remaining groups in Div. 3 are going to be a little bit stunned that the 2 groups within the state championship are from Div. 4. There’s going to be a little bit little bit of anger about that. However I believe it’s going to be a cool story, in that it’s totally different. It doesn’t occur that always.”
