Logan Elm used a tremendous front-row blocking defense and tough serving game to out-slug Unioto (25-17, 25-19, 26-24) for the Division 2 District Championship, Saturday at Southeastern High School.
Despite Unioto out-hitting Logan Elm with 42 kills to 35, the Braves made up the difference with 8 blocks and 9 service aces. Maria Boldoser had 5 solos and 2 assisted blocks of that 8 total. Molly Caudill had 3 of the aces, while Maddie Young added 2.
Set 1 remained close until Logan Elm broke away from a 12-12 tie, to take leads of 18-14, 21-15 and 23-16 en-route to a 25-17 victory.
The Braves started quickly in Set 2, grabbing leads of 3-0, 17-13 and 24-16, before closing with a 25-19 win.
In a "must-win" Set 3 for the Shermans, Unioto trailed most of the set, before rallying from a deficit of 16-14, to take a 22-19 lead. However, Logan Elm bounced-back by scoring 3 unanswered points to tie it 22-22. Unioto would hold Set-Point at 24-23, but Logan Elm finished on a 3-0 run for the 26-24 Set and Match victory.
Macie Rhoads led the Braves hitting attack with 12 kills, followed by Maggie Rhoads' 8, Maria Boldoser with 6 kills, 5 solos and 2 block assists and Megan Diehl with 5 kills. Libero Braysa Elsea had 16 digs, 11 each from Macie Rhoads and Molly Caudill and 9 from Maddie Young.
Unioto was led on the net by seniors Hannah Hall and Ashley Taylor with 11 kills each. Hall also had 2 aces. Jocie Fisher pitched-in with 6 kills, while Amanda McGlone and Amber Cottrill each had 5. Madie Eberst finished with 31 assists, 4 kills and 18 digs. Other Shermans' back-row defenders were Hallie Pinkerton with 17 digs, 13 from Cottrill and 12 from Ashley Taylor.
The SVC Champion Unioto Shermans close their season as District Runner-Up, with a record of (24-2). Logan Elm improves to (24-2) and moves to the Vandalia Butler Regional Semis, where they will face Springfield Kenton Ridge at 6pm, Thursday. Kenton Ridge advanced with a (25-20, 25-22, 25-16) win over Cincinnati McNicholas.
WKKJ's Mike Smith interviewed Logan Elm Coach Aaron Ridenour after the match. Click the podcast below..
Mike Smith and Tom Beard had the play-by-play call on WKKJ, which you can relive on our podcast link below....