Pierce scored the final five points of a crucial fourth set, the scored seven of the last nine in the final set to end Wayne’s hopes of a trip to the state tournament with a 25-11, 13-25, 15-25, 25-22, 15-10 win in the C1-7 subdistrict final Tuesday at Norfolk High School.
After stumbling through the first set, Wayne came out and dominated a Bluejays team they had already beaten twice this season, taking a 2-1 lead in the match with consecutive one-sided victories to pull themselves within a match of advancing to Saturday’s substate round.
The Blue Devils couldn’t get any separation from Pierce in the pivotal fourth set, and when Pierce came back to tie the match up, they never let Wayne back in the game.
Allison Echtenkamp had 14 kills and Lindy Sandoz added 13 to lead the Wayne net attack. Melinda Longe put down seven kills, Shania Anderson had six and Emily Armstrong and Kylie Hammer each had five. Sandoz had 25 assist and Brenna Vovos added 17.
Defensively, Echtenkamp had three blocks while Longe and Anderson both had two. Hammer posted 17 digs, Emily Matthes and Gabi Lutt each had nine, Armstrong and Sandoz both had eight, Echtenkamp and Vovos each ahd five and Longe picked up three.
In Monday’s opening round, the Blue Devils made quick work of Norfolk Catholic, winning in straight sets 25-15, 25-14, 25-19.
Longe led the net attack with nine kills, Sandoz added seven kills, Anderson and Hammer each had five, Armstrong had four and Echtenkamp had three kills and three blocks. Sandoz had 15 assists, Vovos had 13 and Hammer and Longe each had two. Matthes had three service aces.
Defensively, Hammer had 12 digs, Matthes, Armstrong and Ashton Boyer each had nine, Echtenkamp had five, Sandoz and Vovos both had four, Longe had three and Lutt had two.
