The Dexter volleyball team faced a difficult challenge going up against state-ranked Skyline last week in a volleyball District final on Skyline’s home court. But the Eagles knew just how good Dexter was and weren’t about to take the Dreadnaughts lightly so they brought their A game and were able to knock out Dexter in three well-played and hard-fought games.
Skyline scored a 25-17, 25-19, 25-17 win over the Dreadnaughts.
“It was a tough end,” said Dexter coach Paula Palmer Burns. “Skyline played at the top of their game. We felt confident and kept with them the first 10 points of each set and the last five points of each set…. but faltered too many points in between.
“Their front row kept us from being able to execute our game plan. Their block dominated and we needed to get past that in order to keep up with their offensive attack as planned. In the end, we made too many compound errors and our first contacts were not good enough to keep us in system.”
Despite the loss against a team that could very easily win a state title, the Dreadnaughts had an amazing and successful 2021 season. They finished second to Skyline in the challenging SEC Red Division, ahead of Saline. Both Skyline and Saline are playing on Thursday in Regional finals.
Dexter finished with a 37-8-4 overall record with four of the losses to Skyline.
“In a season that we moved to a division where we became the smallest district, we are proud of our fight through our conference,” said Palmer Burns. “We look forward to continuing to face higher level competition and growing our program.”
Dexter leaders vs. Skyline
Senior libero Veronica Sannino led the defense with 21 digs contributing a serve receive average of 2.0.
Senior outside hitter Anna Creech led the offensive attack with 7 kills.
Senior captain and outside hitter Jamie Giese led the serve receive with a 2.5 on the match, adding 5 kills to the offense.
Junior opposite hitter Savannah Smith added 12 digs and 2 blocks to the defense with 4 kills on the offense.
Junior setter, Braedy Wineman, ran the offense with 21 assists and 2 service aces.
Senior captain Avery Goodrich contributed a top serve receive average of 2.12.
Sophomore middle blocker Ali Parachek led with 4 blocks on the match.
Senior middle hitter Hanna Quinn, led from the center with strong blocking and serving at the line.
Dexter advanced to the finals with a 3-0 sweep of Parma Western in a semifinal game.
“It was a perfect time to battle through five sets to prepare for the biggest game of the season,” said Palmer Burns. “I am so proud of the way our players have risen to every occasion – putting the team above themselves. The athletes that never quit and will run through anything for their teammates make me so proud to be their coach.”
Dexter stats vs. Parma Western
Jamie Giese led the team with 13 kills. She contributed a 2.11 serve receive avg and 21 digs.
Anna Creech led with 6 service aces, adding 9 kills, 25 digs and a team leading 2.42 serve receive avg.
Hanna Quinn dominated the net with 9 blocks, adding 7 kills and 3 service aces to the offense.
Savannah Smith added 7 kills to the offense and 27 digs with 3 blocks to the defense.
Braedy Wineman ran the offense with 45 assists contributing 4 service aces and 4 kills.
Veronica Sannino had a team leading 30 digs and averaged 2.29 in serve receive.
Ali Parachek added 7 kills with a team leading 0.333 hitting percentage and 4 blocks.
