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Grand Rapids, Mich. -- Saturday afternoon the Western Conference champion Raiders defeated the Eastern Conference champion Bears of Mott Community College for their fourth consecutive MCCAA title. The win marked the Raiders eighth in a row as they now prepare for Regionals next week. Final score: 25-27, 25-9, 25-16, 25-23.
The 15th ranked Raiders led by as many as four points in the opening set, but a 5-0 run late in the set would put the Bears up 20-17. The Raiders would respond and have a set point, but the Bears answered back scoring the final three points to win 27-25.
Danielle Johnston (Comstock Park '18), who finished the match with a career high 23 kills, had six of the Raiders 16 kills in the set.
The Western Conference champions trailed 3-0 in the second set, but responded with 10 straight points and never looked back, cruising to a 25-9 victory. The Raiders hit .371 with 15 kills and just two errors with Johnston adding six more kills while hitting .429 and adding two aces. Eight total Raiders scored at least one point.
The Raiders continued to roll in the third, getting off to a 5-0 start and finishing the set, 25-16 winners. Once again it was the All-Region outside, Johnston who led the way with six kills.
Annie Holesinger (NorthPointe Christian '19) added two kills and two blocks while
Jamie Wellet (Coldwater '18) had two aces. Sophomore libero,
Mykayla Vallad (Rockford '18) led the defense with seven of her career high 24 digs.
Mott trailed 8-5 in the fourth, but would score eight straight points to take a 13-8 lead. The Raiders regained the lead after an 8-3 run made it 21-20. Five straight side outs nodded the match at 23 a piece and after a timeout by GRCC Johnston would rip her 23rd kill down the line giving her team a match point. Freshman middle blocker
Kylie Oberlin (Fruitport '19) then finished it off with her fourth kill of the day. Just as they did in the first, the Raiders offense finished the set with 16 kills.
Both the Bears and the Raiders will be back in action at the NJCAA District Championships with a trip to Nationals on the line in the double-elimination tournament. The Raiders earned a first round bye and will play at 8:00 PM in their first match on Thursday, November 7th. For a complete schedule of the tournament
follow this link.
Game Notes:
-Johnston recorded her 300th kill of the season and 50th career ace.
-Vallad recorded her 200th career dig.
-The Raiders have now won 7 total MCCAA Championships since 2010. They three-peated between 2010-2012.
-The Raiders are now 9-1 against Mott since 2007, including four straight and have a set record of 29-6.
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