By Chris Metcalf
LCAA’S FINEST
LIVONIA – Host Livonia rallied from a big, first-set deficit that turned the momentum around during their sweep over No. 6 Mynderse in Section V Class B semifinal action Wednesday night at the Tom Downey Gymnasium in Livonia.
With Mynderse having leads of 8-2, 17-11, 20-12 and 22-14, Livonia rallied to get the 25-23 first-set victory en route to winning the next two sets 25-21 and 25-22 to complete the clean sweep over their Finger Lakes opponent and advance into Saturday’s finals.
In the first set, senior Hannah Ingram’s kill made it 20-13 before senior Ava Simmons added a kill and two straight serve points by Ingram cut the deficit to 22-18.
With Mynderse leading 23-22, senior Morgan Meys came up huge with a kill and then added a block alongside classmate Lillie Capecci on the next point that put Livonia in front 24-23.
Senior Caroline Cendoma’s kill shot gave Livonia the first-set dub. The final three service points came from Simmons.
Livonia’s come-from-behind victory in the first set took the wind out of Mynderse’s sails.
Cendoma finished the night with 10 kills, seven digs and four aces while Capecci added 14 assists with two kills, two digs and one block.
Ingram, who came up with some big plays in key moments of every set, including the match-ending kill, finished the night with nine digs, eight kills and one ace.
Simmons chipped in with four kills, four digs and two aces while senior Julie Renner dished out nine assists with four digs.
Siblings, senior Megan Tumminelli (five digs) and sophomore Kiley Tumminelli (four digs) combined for nine digs.
“Mynderse picked up a lot of hard hits, Caroline and Hannah did a nice job placing the ball where it was hard for them to pick up,” Livonia coach Kristin Hierlwimmer said. “They worked as one unit out on the court tonight. If someone missed a serve, they made sure they picked up the pass to get the next point. I was very impressed with their passing. They pushed the ball to the setters and everything fell into place.”
Livonia improved to 18-3 on the season and will take on No. 1 seeded Midlakes for the Class B title at noon Saturday at Bloomfield HS.
Midlakes defeated Hornell in four sets Wednesday in their half of the bracket.
“The last time we were in the finals was 2014,” Hierlwimmer said. “And it was against Midlakes. It will definitely be a good game.”
Lindsey Meys Photography
