MUSKEGON TOWNSHIP – Even though the final result was the same as last season for the Whitehall volleyball team, it didn’t feel quite the same.
The Vikings faced Grand Rapids Christian in 2020 in the Division 2 regional semifinals and averaged less than 10 points per set in a three-set loss to the Eagles.
Whitehall had another crack at the Eagles on Tuesday in regional play and competed much better against the second-ranked team in the state, The Vikings lost in straight sets by scores of 25-22, 25-12 and 25-20 at Orchard View High School.
[1]Whitehall finished its season with a 33-7-1 record, and had many bright spots along the way.
“We did everything we planned to do,” said Whitehall coach Ted Edsall. “Rayne (Thompson) had a big match and we had our chances. They are just big, but all-in-all it was way better than last year. We were in every game and we had a chance.
“This is Whitehall volleyball, we don’t have a kid over 5-foot-9, we are a public school and I think we did pretty darned well.”
The Vikings finished in first place in the regular season in the West Michigan Conference, getting past traditional power Montague and a good North Muskegon squad.
[2]Whitehall also won the West Michigan Conference tournament by defeating the Norse in the finals.
The Vikings continued their winning ways in district play by beating Spring Lake in the semifinals and Fruitport in the finals to capture their second straight title.
“I could not ask for any more from these kids going this far,” Edsall said.
The Vikings were paced by senior Rayne Thompson with 21 kills and 17 digs, while Charley Klint added seven kills and four aces. Maggie Evans chipped in with 29 assists.
Whitehall was paced defensively by Ryleigh Mott with 20 digs while Sidney Shepherd contributed with two blocks.
[3]The Vikings scored just as many points in the opening set as they did in last year’s entire match against Grand Rapids Christian.
Whitehall’s largest lead was 18-15, but the Eagles closed out the set with a 10-4 run to complete the late comeback and win the opening set.
Grand Rapids Christian led throughout the second set, but the Vikings fought hard to keep it close, only trailing 12-11 midway through.
The Eagles went on their best run of the match with a 13-1 spurt to win the middle set and take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
Grand Rapids Christian led early in the final set before the Vikings went on a 7-1 run to erase a 6-4 deficit and take an 11-7 lead. Shepherd had a long service run during the run.
The Eagles responded by scoring six straight points to take a lead they never relinquished.
Whitehall managed to cut its deficit to 22-20 before the Eagles scored the final three points of the contest.
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