Cavs shut down #1 Tigers

COLDWATER - With the unbeaten, top-ranked Division III team in the state Versailles traveling to The Palace to take on 11th-ranked Coldwater, Cavaliers coach Mike Etzler fully expected his team to come out on top.

Etzler, however, wasn't expecting a three-set victory, but that didn't stop his team from doing it anyway.

Brooke Welsch hammered home 13 kills, added 15 digs and four aces, Lauren Leugers pitched in with nine kills and four aces and Coldwater put forth a dominating all-around effort against the Tigers Tuesday night - stampeding past them in three sets by scores of 25-21, 25-17 and 25-15.

"We talked about it being just a complete battle because it's two really great teams," Etzler said. "We thought it was going to go five. I mean, we practiced for tight situations. The intensity through the match was unbelievable. There were a lot of great plays. We didn't think we'd win in three. We though we'd win but we knew anything was possible. I'm sure they thought they'd win, because we both play with a lot of confidence. We just were the better team tonight."

In the first set, the Cavaliers reeled off four quick points to turn a 10-all tie into a four-point cushion. They never trailed again. A Paige Hartings' kill put the Cavaliers up 17-12, but the Tigers came clawing back late with Taylor Winner's kill, which cut the deficit to 23-20 and prompted a timeout by Etzler. Following that, Welsch and Hartings finished off the set with back-to-back kills.

Coldwater and Versailles exchanged points to a 5-5 tie in the second set and then the Cavs took the lead and never let go. Welsch dropped down a kill to put Coldwater in front 11-7 and Hartings followed with one of her six kills. The closest the Tigers got the rest of the way was three points as the Cavaliers cruised to a 25-17 win.

The two teams played to seven ties in the final set, before the Cavs once again grabbed the momentum and rode it the rest of the way home. With the score tied at 10-a piece, Coldwater surged ahead with a six-point spurt, highlighted by kills from Tasha Kahlig and Hartings. Leugers also had three kills in the last set. After Leugers' final kill advanced the score to 22-15, Olivia Harlamert stepped in and served up three straight aces to finish off the Tigers for good.

"The big thing was who was going to win the servicing game," Etzler said. "That was who was going to win, because both teams when they're in the system are so good. I think we were able to serve a little more aggressive and we got them out of their system a lot, which really helped us defensively. When they're in system, they have three girls that can put the ball away at anytime."

Other key contributors for the Cavaliers were Kahlig (seven kills, 15 digs) and Kim Hosbach (24 assists). Versailles was led by senior Lauren Bruns, who finished with 13 kills.

The win improves the Cavaliers overall record to 12-2. After Tuesday, Coldwater and St. Henry are the only two teams left unblemished in Midwest Athletic Conference play at 4-0. The Tigers drop to 12-1, 3-1 in the MAC.

"We're excited (but) rankings really don't mean anything," Etzler said. "Last year, we were the No. 1 team in the state and they took us out. We know every team in the MAC could be ranked and should be ranked. We're just excited to beat a great team."

Both teams are back in conference play on Thursday. The Cavaliers travel to Maria Stein to face Marion Local and Versailles plays host to Minster.