Crestview punches ticket to state

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

ELIDA — It was a dominating sweep of a team that had lost just four of its 26 matches.

Crestview, ranked No. 16 in the final OHSVCA poll of the season, defeated Hicksville 25-15, 25-19, 25-13 to capture the Division IV regional championship at Elida on Saturday. The victory puts the Knights (21-7) in the state semifinals for the first time since 1991, with the opponent being No. 1 New Bremen (26-1).

“Final Four!” Crestview head coach Tammy Gregory said. “These girls have worked so hard and have earned this great opportunity to compete for a state championship.  There are so many girls that would do anything to be in their shoes right now and even past players that always dreamed of getting to compete at state, but never made it out of sectionals, districts or regionals.”

“This group is special not only because of their success this season, but more importantly how they push one another to be their best, their overall support they give each other, and just understanding their role on the team,” she added. “Throughout this tourney run, they have put everything they had out on the court and never gave up when things weren’t going our way.”

Crestview’s taller front line gave the Aces (22-5) problems throughout Saturday’s match. The Knights raced out to an 11-4 lead in the first set and a 9-2 lead in the second, before the Aces came within two, 14-12. In the third and final set, Crestview built an insurmountable 19-9 advantage.

Myia Etzler and Adelyn Figley finished with 13 and 11 kills, while Cali Gregory and Laci McCoy each had eight. Gregory also recorded team highs in assists (30) and digs (14), and was 13-of-15 serving with an ace. Ellie Kline had 11 digs and Figley finished with 10. Haley McCoy had four blocks, Kline was 17-of-17 from the service line and Nevaeh Ross was 9-of-11 serving with a pair of aces.

The Knights (21-7) and New Bremen will play at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Ervin J. Nutter Center at Wright State University in Dayton. It’s a rematch of an August 25 match, won by New Bremen 25-18, 25-20, 25-16. The winner of Thursday’s match will face Monroeville or Newark Catholic in the Division IV state finals at 11 a.m. Saturday.

“They are on a mission right now and know what they want to achieve next,” Gregory said. “I love coaching this group of girls that have the same vision and know what it takes to win these big matches.  It’s taken 31 years to get back to the state tournament for the Lady Knights.  I was a sophomore on that team in ’91 and how special it is for me to be the coach of this team and creating so many more memories. These are times you’ll never forget.”

Thursday’s state semifinal match will air live on 99.7 WKSD.