Northmor volleyball team wins, advances to regional tournament for first time

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MOUNT VERNON — After finishing the regular season with two losses in their final three matches, the Northmor Lady Golden Knights volleyball has put together a postseason run to remember.

Entering the Division III, Central I District, the Lady Knights were slotted as a No. 4 seed and opened sectional contention against the No. 18 seed in the likes of Africentric. Northmor advanced to the sectional championship game by easily defeating the Lady Nubians in three sets, setting up a title contest against former league foe, the Elgin Lady Comets. Elgin entered the match as the No. 11 seed. Northmor also cruised past them in straight sets to claim yet another sectional championship on their home floor.

With the win over Elgin, the black and gold advanced to the district semifinals and a meeting with the No. 6 seeded squad from Johnstown-Monroe back on Tuesday, October 23. Another match and another 3-0 win for Northmor sent them onward in postseason play and the chance for their first-ever district championship.

On Saturday afternoon, the Golden Knights would claim said title at Mount Vernon Nazarene University by defeating the No. 3 seed from Newark Catholic in straight sets; 25-19, 25-16, 25-20. With the victory, Northmor advances to the Division III Sweet 16 where they will meet up with Defiance Tinora on Thursday, November 1 at Millbury Lake High School. Action is set to start at 6 p.m. The Lady Golden Knights are now 20-5 overall on the season and the only member of the Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference still in contention for a state berth.

In true Northmor fashion, the Lady Knights saw well-rounded performances on both sides of the net from multiple members of the squad.

At the net defensively, Hanna Bentley led the way with two blocks while teammates Julianne Kincaid, Leslie Brubaker, Macy Miracle and Anna Donner all chimed in with one block apiece. Donner would also earn 13 digs on the defensive side of things while Abby Donner picked up eight and Aly Blunk would finish as the team leader with 16 digs.

Offensively for Northmor, Miracle was the primary ball handler, going 57/59 on the day en route to 21 assists. Lily Tate contributed five assists and Anna Donner, four. Donner also threw down 15 kills on a 34/36 performance to lead the way for the black and gold. Kincaid finished with six kills while Brubaker and Miracle turned in five kills apiece in the victory.

Anna Donner and Miracle also found themselves among the serve leaders for the Golden Knights.

Donner went a perfect 14/14 while serving up two aces and Miracle finished at a 15/18 clip, good for an ace. Bentley was also spotless at the service line, recording a 12/12 afternoon and picking up an ace. Blunk recorded two aces on 9/10 serving in the impressive, straight-set victory for Northmor.

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By Chad Clinger

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Follow Chad on Twitter @GalionSportsGuy

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