
NOV. 7, 2022 — The Midlakes girls volleyball team defeated top-seeded Aquinas Institute in a back-and-forth match for the Class C1 Championship that featured a huge swing in the closing sets to bring the Screaming Eagles its first sectional title since 2014.
Already down 2-1, Midlakes found itself trailing 16-12 in the fourth set when it sparked a six-point rally to take the lead and eventually the set, 25-20. The Screaming Eagles kept up the pressure to win the fifth set, 15-13, and the sectional title.
"I told them we haven't taken a team to five sets all year,” said senior co-captain Callie Walker. "It's gotta be this team. This is not going to be our last game. It might be a fight, but let’s take them to five."
Third-year head coach Matt Marchaesi led the No. 2-seeded Screaming Eagles into the championship game after finishing the regular season 14-7 and then defeating Bath-Haverling and Wellsville in sectionals.
"Our team is such a fun team to coach," Marchaesi said. "We definitely improved. We got more skill, but our mental game is so much stronger. We can come back. We can work together and that is the biggest piece this year."
Senior libero and co-captain Nauvoo Dorr was named tournament MVP. Hanna Godkin, Midlakes third co-captain, was named to the All-Tournament team along with senior Kayla Nurse.
Nurse said a key to the game was simply trying to stay positive and keeping their energy, even when it looked bleak.
"We did it. We made it," Nurse said after the game. "This team is my second family. I just really love them so much … It's not over yet."
2022 Varisity Girl’s Volleyball Team
- Kayla Nurse
- Chloe Collett
- Savanna Thomas
- Callie Walker
- Laura Rugiero-Altez
- Kianna Naval
- Clara Bond
- Katelyn Martin
- Cameron Walker
- Hanna Godkin
- Danielle Cartwright
- Nauvoo Dorr
- Kendall Ridley
- Alexis Ridley
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