The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Ida brings Big Red season to close
Big Reds improved in 2006-2007, but fall in district first round
By Jerry Hinnen, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 8, 2007
With volleyball regionals being held at the Milan High School gymnasium this season, the Big Red volleyball team entered last Friday's district tournament with dreams of winning and playing in as well as hosting those regionals.
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Unfortunately for Milan, the Ida Bluestreaks had other ideas, dashing the Big Red dreams with a 25-16, 25-11, 25-12 win in the district semifinals and bringing Milan's season to a disappointing finish.
But amidst that disappointment, Milan head coach Andrea Marshall was able to point out the continued improvement the program had made this season, the kind of improvement that could see those district dreams come true in years to come.
"We're getting better," she said. "If you look at the season as a whole, we're moving in the right direction. We're showing improvement. Today, we didn't come in mentally ready and that's something we'll work on next year."
Districts were held at Willow Run High School in Ypsilanti. Milan had drawn a bye in the first round and faced the Bluestreaks after Ida dispatched first-round opponent Erie-Mason.
Milan hung with Ida in the early going of Game 1, getting a Kaitlin Ludwig kill to tie the game at four. But a rotation error seemed to rattle the Big Reds and after leading 12-8, Ida scored five of six points for a commanding 17-9 lead.
The lead grew as large as 21-11 before aces by Jennifer Dennison and Carolyn Nelson keyed a 5-1 Milan run that took the Big Reds within 22-16. Ida responded by scoring the next three points to finish the game.
Game 2 followed a similar script as a Bekah Draves kill had Milan a point behind at 7-6. But Ida ripped off 16 of the next 17 points and cruised to the win and as commanding 2-0 lead.
Even behind 15-4 in game 3, Milan showed signs of life as a Dennison kill capped a 5-0 run to bring the Big Reds within striking distance. The Bluestreaks refused to let Milan any closer, though, finishing the match off with an 8-1 run of their own.
Nelson finished the match with 16 assists and one kill, block, and ace each. Dennison and Draves were the leading beneficiaries of those assists with six and five kills, respectively. Chelsea Thomas's pair of aces was a team high.
Late in Game 1 and Game 2, several close calls went against the Big Reds, setting off a round of vocal displeasure with the officiating from the Milan fans in attendance. Marshall agreed that the Big Reds had not gotten many breaks during the match, but added that the officiating didn't make the difference in the outcome.
"You're going to get bad calls in every game," she said. "You have to make sure you're out in front of the game so that they don't hurt you."
The loss marked the final match in the career of Milan's three seniors: Nelson, Dennison, and Jennifer Robinson. Marshall said she could not have been happier with the effort her seniors gave during the season.
"My seniors have been phenomenal," she said. "They have all been great leaders. They did a great job of adjusting to my style of coaching and really set an example with their commitment and dedication."
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