The Daily Standard
Story Archive
Coldwater seniors Olivia Broering, Morgan Blasingame and Spencer Etzler raise the Division VI state volleyball championship trophy after defeating Marion Pleasant in three sets on Saturday night at the Ervin J. Nutter Center on the campus of Wright State University.
FAIRBORN - A perfect set by Mia Knapke.
A perfect kill by Morgan Blasingame.
And a perfect season for Coldwater.
The Cavaliers won the program's first state volleyball championship doing what they have done nearly every match this season by getting a three-set sweep of Marion Pleasant 25-18, 25-18, 25-12 in the Division VI championship match Saturday evening at the Ervin J. Nutter Center on the campus of Wright State University.
Coldwater finishes its season with a 29-0 record, having lost just three sets out of 85 played this season. The Cavaliers were never taken to a fifth set this season.
"It was a great end to the season," said senior Olivia Broering. "We just worked so hard, not just since June. This was almost a decade in the making. All of us wanted it so bad, from the managers to the parents."
It's the 23rd state volleyball title for the Midwest Athletic Conference and 148th overall for the MAC.
Coldwater players celebrate after defeating Marion Pleasant in three sets to win the Division VI state volleyball championship on Saturday at Wright State Unviersity's Nutter Center. The victory is the first state volleyball title for the Cavaliers as they finished the season 29-0.
"Just so proud of the girls," said Coldwater coach Nikki Etzler, who guided Coldwater to runner-up finishes in 2017 and 2022. "They have been working so hard and so young as ball managers when we were here in the past. For them to see it, dream it and come to life is just awesome to see that whole transformation."
"We knew it would be a big task at hand," said Pleasant coach Kory Ute, whose team was making their first-ever trip to the state final four and finish at 25-4. "We knew we had to compete, and we did. We knew we had to be strong all the way around and we tried that. (Coldwater's) a very good team and knows how to get you of sync. That's what they do well."
Coldwater's Campbell Etzler dives to save the ball as teammate, and older sister, Spencer watches.
The Cavaliers started out much like they did in the semifinal with Independence, with freshman Brylee Knapke serving them into a 2-0 lead. The Spartans stayed with the Cavaliers, trailing 10-12 before a four-hit call gave Coldwater the point and the serve. Campbell Etzler served up two aces during a five-point run to put Coldwater in front 18-10. Pleasant was unable to get closer than six points in the rest of the way before the Cavaliers closed out the set.
The second set proved to be a nail-biter with 11 ties and just two lead changes. Pleasant took its first lead of the match at 3-2 on a kill by Kamryn Cocherl. Coldwater managed to tie the set at 3-, 6-, 7- and 9-all, but the Spartans were able to retain the lead, but never getting more than two points ahead. Coldwater finally turned the tide when a hitting error by Pleasant tied the set at 12-all, then a four-hit call gave Coldwater the lead at 13-12. Pleasant managed ties at 13-, 14-, 15-, 16- and 17-all, but Spencer Etzler dinked the ball over the net for a kill to break the tie, then Brylee Knapke served up three straight points to make it 21-17. Pleasant added one more point before Spencer Etzler served out the final three points to put the Cavs a set closer to a title.
"That's what the game of volleyball is all about: trying to gain the momentum at the right time," said coach Etzler. "To take that pocket of force to get you to 25. The girls were really calm and poised. I liked how they were looking at each other in the eye and trusting each other on the court."
Coldwater's Harlow Heyne (22) and Spencer Etzler go up to block the spike of Marion Pleasant's Brooklin Davis.
Coldwater left no doubt there would be no surprises in the third set. With the Cavs leading 2-1, Spencer Etzler got a kill to make it 3-1 and went back to serve. The senior served up six straight points as Blasingame had two kills, Harlow Heyne added another and Etzler had an ace and a kill to make it 9-1. Every attempt at a rally by the Spartans was met by the Cavaliers coming up big. Blasingame had three straight kills to make it 22-10, then after the trading of sideouts, got match point on a kill. Cocherl staved off the inevitable with a kill, but on the final play Mia Knapke set up Blasingame for the coup de grâce to send Cavalier players, coaches and fans into a frenzy.
"I kept looking at the crowd," said Blasingame about the final points of the match. "We're from a small town and to see that many people here to support us, we're so grateful. Not a lot of people can say they have that many people and support behind them.
"I just love that about Coldwater."
Coldwater's Morgan Blasingame (6) spikes the ball past the block of Marion Pleasant's Kamryn Cocherl during Saturday's Division VI state volleyball final.
Blasingame finished with 16 kills, 13 digs and two blocks in her final varsity match. Spencer Etzler, the MAC and District 8 Division VI Player of the Year, had 12 kills and 10 digs. Mia Knapke set up the Cavaliers with 28 assists while Campbell Etzler and Brylee Knapke each had 13 digs.
Cocherl had 19 kills for Pleasant. Sydney Smith recorded 28 assists.
"I'm super proud because of the fight they have in them," said Ute of her squad, which like Coldwater had just three seniors. "I knew they wouldn't let me down in that way.
After finishing second in 2022 and losing in the district finals last season in Division III, the Cavaliers now have earned a long-desired championship.
"This is everything to us," said Broering. "Even when I watched the rivalries with St. Henry when I was young, I dreamed of this. I think (Former New Bremen standout) Paige Jones said in her post-state interview she wrote '2017 State Championships' every day on her mirror. I did that and every day I looked at it. To be here now and join all those other great players is amazing. To leave that legacy at Coldwater is everything to us."
Coldwater's Paige Ontrop (15) and Olivia Broering (9) cheer their team on from the bench.
Coldwater's Mia Knapke (4) sets up a teammate for a spike. Knapke had 28 assists in the victory over Marion Pleasant.
Coldwater head coach Nikki Etzler, left, and assistant coaches Traci Dues, Megan Winner and Mike Etlzer, hugging son Briggs, celebrate after the championship point.
