BATTLE CREEK – In a stunning upset Friday night at Kellogg Arena, underdog Romeo pulled off one of the program’s biggest wins, knocking off No. 1-ranked Temperance Bedford in the Class A semifinal.
The Bulldogs did virtually everything right, keeping Bedford off balance with crushing kills at an open net, mixed in with timely dink and dunks to open holes, sweeping the match by convincing margins of 25-14, 25-23, and 25-9.
Romeo junior Gia Milana said the game plan included some wrinkles they felt Bedford would not expect from scouting.
“We were running our middles (hitters) a whole lot more tonight,” Milana said. “I don’t think they were ready for that, because usually I get most of the balls, but our middles were just doing amazing tonight. They really opened up the blocks for all of our hitters and we could just see spots and hit spots.”
“Lauren (Korth) our setter was just making it so easy. (Bedford’s) blockers couldn’t read her sets, so they’d go out — she would set back and we just had an open net to hit.”
Prep volleyball state semifinals
In the combined history of Bedford and Romeo volleyball, the programs have reached the Class A semifinal an impressive two dozen times. Bedford has 22 of the 24 appearances — including four of the last five seasons; and three state championships in 1998, 2001 and ’05.
No. 8 Romeo earned a state runner-up in 1997.
“Our girls put early goals into play this year and this is where we wanted to be,” said Romeo coach Stacy Williams. “And it’s just nice to see those goals come to be. I knew that’s how we can play, so I was not surprised at how well we played.”
The game got off to a rare start with Bedford (71-6-2) attempting the first serve, which officials determined should have been Romeo’s. Point, Bulldogs, before the match even began.
Romeo then built a 6-1 lead early on an ace by senior Deanna Krumholz, then held a 3-to-5 point edge all the way until a closing run that included an ace by Milana, a kill by Katherine Betzing and two closing kills by Jodie Kelly to take the first game, 25-14.
Romeo continued to roll with a 10-6 lead in the second game, before it became tied at 17. Romeo closed out the game well, with a kill by Milana and ace by Krumholz for the 25-23 margin.
By the third game, Romeo (44-8-1) was rolling downhill and wouldn’t be stopped. The Bulldogs went up 7-1, then 15-7 before closing on a 10-2 run that included four kills and an ace by Milana.
Romeo had 50 team kills to Bedford’s 29, and led the ace battle, 11-3.
“We’re the underdogs coming in to make a name for Romeo,” Milana said. “We’ve worked hard and almost got here last year but fell short. But this year we were really going at it. Everything was just working for us tonight.”
Volleyball finals
At Kellogg Arena, Battle Creek
Class D
Battle Creek St. Philip vs. Leland, 10 a.m.
Class C
Schoolcraft vs. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, noon
Class A
Novi vs. Romeo, 2 p.m.
Class B
Lake Odessa Lakewood vs. North Branch, 4 p.m.
