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FIELD TWP- In a season left in shambles by COVID-19 quarantines and cancellations, the North Woods Grizzlies wrapped up play last week with a healthy team, three consecutive nights of volleyball, and …
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FIELD TWP- In a season left in shambles by COVID-19 quarantines and cancellations, the North Woods Grizzlies wrapped up play last week with a healthy team, three consecutive nights of volleyball, and promising prospects for the future.
First up was a postponed home match against Cherry, delayed when Cherry was forced into distance learning for two weeks due to COVID-19-induced staff shortages.
After spotting the visitors the first game 25-17, the Grizzlies turned the tables with 25-23, 26-24, and 25-16 victories to win the match 3-1.
The match turned on a decision by Grizzlies Head Coach Kandi Olson to move junior Morgan Burnett to full-time setter after the first game.
“We needed more cohesion out there and she brought the glue,” Olson said. “All of a sudden, our kids were able to execute things that they hadn’t done all year long. Hannah Kinsey had a great night out there hitting different types of shots and came out of it with ten kills. And when Hannah wasn’t at the ball, it was going to Zoey Trip, who was seeing the court all over the place and got 15 kills. To see our senior having such a fantastic season was really exciting.”
Silver Bay canceled a trip to North Woods on Thursday, but Northeast Range was looking for an opponent so the Grizzlies hit the road for the impromptu rematch.
North Woods won the first game 27-25, but fueled by a dominating performance by Hannah Reichensperger, the Nighthawks took the match with wins of 25-19, 25-23, and 25-15.
“Compared to the previous time we played them we definitely looked like a different team out there,” Olson said. “We played very well that night. There were just many opportunities where Hannah (Reichensperger) was able to capitalize on an opening we had.”
The Grizzlies finished the season with a 2-6 record, but will return everyone except Trip next season.
North Woods’ late success had the team looking forward to next season, according to Olson.
“I think they saw a glimpse of what the future could look like and that there’s something exciting about those possibilities,” she said.