TRAVERSE CITY — The Traverse City Central varsity volleyball team is on the cusp of making Big North Conference history for the first time since 2005.
“I feel like we reached an important milestone off our list, but we still have a lot of work to do,” TC Central second-year coach Emily Wilbert said. “I anticipated this season going well into November.”
After defeating the reigning co-Big North Conference champions and Division 2 runner-up, Cadillac Sept 9., the Trojans are three conference games away from claiming the Big North for the first time since 2005 after defeating the Vikings in five sets on Wednesday, 22-25, 25-13, 25-17, 21-25, 15-10.
“Just knowing that history can be made but not settling for it. We need to keep working, and it’s not going to get handed to us,” senior Elyse Heffner said.
The Trojans now have a two-game lead in the Big North with Gaylord and a home finale against Traverse City West. The Vikings have three conference games left against TC West, Gaylord, and then travel to Petoskey to end the season.
“That was our biggest hurdle for the moment right now. Cadillac was our competition tonight,” said Wilbert, potentially winning the Big North. “If we wanted a piece of the Big North, we had to beat them.”
The Trojans went five sets with the Vikings despite having a 2-1 lead heading into the fourth set. The Trojans won the second set after ending it on a 12-1 run. TC Central didn’t allow Cadillac to get into a rhythm because the Trojans continued to attack.
Cadillac maintained the lead throughout the fourth set as senior Carissa Musta and junior Makenzie Johns made plays.
“We were far behind in that first set and came back and won. In the second set we were out of it, and then the third set, we came back, but we never quit,” Cadillac coach Michelle Brines said. “We need to make plays, kept tipping the ball, and need to swing on the ball, but Elyse went to town in the fifth set, and that was it.”
The Vikings won the first set with Musta leading the way with her presence at the net. The senior middle blocker finished with seven blocks, 10 digs, and 20 kills. Johns finished with 12 kills and eight digs.
Heffner put on a show in the final set.
The senior middle blocker started the set with several kills to give the Trojans a 5-2 lead. The Vikings continued to fight, but the kills by Heffner only distanced the Trojans.
Cadillac tied the set 8-8, but a block from senior Sydney Baehr and another kill from Heffner gave them a 10-8 lead. Heffner tacked on several more kills to help Central take a 14-8 lead.
The Vikings added three points to make it 14-10, but the Trojans would get a quick kill at the end to kill —no pun intended — the Vikings chances for a potential 11th consecutive Big North title.
“[Elyse] came into the role of a leader, and I think she made the decision; ‘Yes we are going to win this game, and we’re going to do whatever it takes to get there,” Wilbert said. “She was unstoppable force-hitting.”
Heffner’s spikes throughout the match left multiple Cadillac players sitting on the floor after attempting to dig up one of her kills. Heffner’s teammates, during practice, have had to ice their hands after trying to dig one of her kills.
“We just laugh about it,” Heffner said. “It’s a funny joke between us so it’s okay.”
Heffner, after the match, was presented with a banner for surpassing her 1000th kill on Saturday, and on Wednesday, she accomplished 500 digs. The newly South Alabama commit finished the night with nine digs, 29 kills, three blocks, and four aces.
The Trojans had playmakers all around the court, with junior Marley Richmond leading the team with 47 assists. Natalie Bourdo led the team in digs (25).
Wilbert spoke on Baehr’s performance at length by noting she has improved throughout the season.
“What I’ve seen from [Sydney] throughout the season has been solid for us. She’s consistent, and that’s how she showed up tonight,” Wilbert said. “She played well offensively and had some crucial blocks at important times.”
The Vikings have controlled the Big North for 10 consecutive years with Brines at the helm.
“You can say having Northshore volleyball club in Traverse City is helpful,” said Brines on tides the tides. “A lot of their players play club, and we don’t have that. That makes a difference.”
Heffner made a verbal commitment to South Alabama on Saturday and told her team after the match on Wednesday. Heffner said she’s excited to explore the south and escape the northern Michigan winters.
“Its always been a dream of mine to go to the warm climates,” Heffner said with a smile. “I would say, throughout the whole recruiting process, all these coaches have been amazing to me. I like the South Alabama coaches because you could tell they wanted me.”
TC Central hosts a tri on Monday with Big Rapids and Ogemaw Heights. The Vikings host TC West on Wednesday.