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Otsego up next for 26-0 Archbold

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By THOMAS HERRIN

cnsports@crescent-news.com

The districts are over, and the champions have been crowned.

It's now time for the remaining Defiance six-county area volleyball teams to prove to themselves that they have what it takes to be the best. With the state tournament gleaming just over the horizon, teams have one final test ahead of them at regionals before making their way to state.

Heading into Wednesday's Division III regional semifinal contest against Otsego at Liberty-Benton High School with a perfect 26-0 record, No. 2-ranked Archbold looks to show no signs of stopping. The game is slated to start at 6 p.m.

"We have played Otsego before," stated Archbold head coach Julie Nofziger. "One of the things that is going to be a challenge is that they have a very good lefty middle. Their setter is a four-year starter too. So they have a lot of talent that we are going to have to try and adjust to."

"Even though we played Otsego this year, that is no guarantee that we will win," commented offensive specialist Devin Newman. "We are going to have to really work hard in practice and try and improve. We know that they will have improved too, so we have to be ready."

With a serve rating of 97 percent, and over 30 aces under her belt, Newman has proven to be a key factor in the Archbold offense. She also leads the team in total kills.

"We have to realize that as we face stronger teams, their hitting is going to get better too," Newman added. "Defense brings good offense. If we have a solid defense, then we can let our front row take care of the offense. That is something that we are going to keep focusing on."

According to Nofziger, consistent defense will be a big key if her team expects to advance to the regional finals.

"We are going to have to pick our defense up," admitted Nofziger. "Our offense is solid enough that we can spread it out and keep the other team from keying on any one given player. Defensively, it takes six kids out on the court. We need to get a hand on the ball and slow it down. That gives us time to read the other team and decide what we are going to do as an offense."

"We know that we have to be able to improve on our passing in order to keep the offense strong," stated setter Stacy Wyse. "That is something that we have struggled with a little bit as the season has gone on. I have full confidence that our defensive specialists are able to get the passes, so we can get the sets, so we can hit the ball. We have been improving a lot, and I know that we can adjust when we need to."

"Sometimes we struggle with the serve receive," agreed Alyssa Schaub. "That is something that we are really going to have to work on in practice. If we can't pass the ball, then we can't hit the ball."

With a serve rating of 96 percent, and over 140 kills, Schaub has helped to spearhead the Archbold offense. Newman and Schaub are key defensive players as well, with Newman posting 239 digs, while Schaub has 219. Wyse leads the team with over 570 assists and a setting percentage of around 90 percent.

If the Blue Streaks have proven anything this season, it's that they are always up to the challenge of bettering themselves. With nine seniors on the team, and with three of them being 3-year veterans, Archbold has perhaps one of the most experienced teams in the tournament.

"Anytime the senior class has that type of leadership, it motivates the younger players," said Nofziger. "Everyone realizes that this is it for the seniors. Everyone wants to have a great senior year, and I think the underclassmen want to do everything they can to help with that."

"I think playing such a tough schedule this year has definitely been to our advantage," Wyse admitted. "We learned that even if we fall behind, we have it in us to be able to come back. Even if we don't win the set, we know that we are still in the game and can pull out the win. I think we are better prepared than maybe some of the other teams who have not played such a tough schedule."

Now just two wins from state, Archbold is looking to continue to rise to the challenge.

"We are going to try and challenge them mentally," Nofziger said. "We are going to try and come up with as many different situations as possible in order to prepare them for whatever might come up."

In the other semifinal contest on Wednesday, Huron will battle Marion Elgin. The Archbold-Otsego winner and the Huron-Marion Elgin winner will meet with a state berth on the line in the regional finals on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Liberty-Benton.