Tight all night

Canton spikers battle Churchill dig for dig, but Chargers prevail in three games

  Throughout most of Thursday's high-intensity volleyball match between KLAA South Division rivals Canton and Livonia Churchill, it was difficult to distinguish the state-ranked team from the one trying to break into the rankings.

  In an ultra-entertaining match that featured 90 minutes of above-the-net action, the Chargers survived in three velcro-tight games, 25-23, 25-23, 25-19.

  Neither team led by more than three points until the waning moments of game three.

  "We were so close, it's like right there, you just want to grab it," said Canton coach Mary Kryska. "We just couldn't quite finish. I have to give it up to Churchill. They're a great team."

  The loss dropped Canton to 20-6 overall and 6-2 in the division. Churchill improved to 8-0 in the South.

  Half of the Chiefs' losses this season are to the Chargers.

  "I'm not frustrated at the girls, but I'm frustrated at the outcome," said Kryska. "We had eight hitting errors in the second game. If we can eliminate half of those on our own side, we can beat Churchill. We're right there with them."

  Senior captain Jordan Kielty excelled in the front row and the back for the Chiefs, compiling 15 kills and 19 assists. Sophomore Kristen Muir racked up 31 digs and 14 kills while sophomore Alaina Turner had eight kills and five blocks.

  The Chargers were paced by the outside hitting of senior Sarah Suppelsa, who extinguished several Chief rallies with her powerful slams.

  Game one proved to be a microcosm of the entire nip-and-tuck match. Canton actually seized a 21-20 lead late in the game when a soft Muir tip found a hole in the Chargers' defense. 

  However, Suppelsa tied it at 21-all with a right-armed missile kill, then put the Chargers in front for good when her mistimed hit walked along the net for two seconds before dropping softly on the Canton side of the court to make it 22-21.

  Churchill won the game with a pair of Suppelsa kills sandwiched around a no-doubt hit from Kielty.

  Like game one, the two teams were inseparable in the second set until the final point. With the game knotted at 19-all, Muir ripped off three consecutive kills to put Canton up, 22-12.

  Sparked by the serving of Taylor Kerr and the front-row play of Suppelsa and middle hitter Darcy Deroo, the Chargers used a late 4-0 run to earn a 25-23 win.

  Canton trailed just 16-15 two-thirds through game three before the Chargers closed the deal with a 9-4 run.

  "We changed our defense to go around Churchill tonight and I thought we defended (Suppelsa) pretty well," Kryska said. "We got quite a few touches on blocks against her. The last time we played them, we didn't get any touches; she killed every single ball.

  "I give credit to our whole team tonight. One change was that we added Kelsey Lindberg to the starting line-up because she gets a lot of touches on blocks. That's what you have to do against Churchill to shut down their outside hitters."

  Lauren Macuga recorded 18 digs and Traci Breitmeyer picked up 17 assists for the Chiefs.

Ed Wright can be reached at info@plymouthcantonsports.com or (734) 453-1980.