The Versailles volleyball program won its ninth consecutive District Championship with win over Clermont Northeastern
CLAYTON – The Versailles Lady Tigers traveled to Northmont High School to easily defeat the Batavia Clermont Northeastern Lady Rockets in straight sets, 25-12, 25-5 and 25-17 to earn their ninth consecutive District Championship title.
“We don’t play in many gyms like this,” said Versailles coach, Kenzie Bruggeman. “It is very deep, there is a lot of green and it messes with your depth perception so we gave them a little bit extra time during warmups just to get used to that.”
The teams played to a 2-2 tie in the opening set before the Lady Tigers reeled off 7-unsanswered points to lead 9-2. Versailles took a double digit 15-5 advantage on their way to a 25-12 first set win.
“We have been working so hard trying to get our middles more involved and Tory Tyo really soaks that in,” Bruggeman noted. “She has a really smart volleyball knowledge to where she is, not necessarily swinging all the time but she has the hand strength to put it pretty much where ever she wants it on the court.”
Leading 5-2 in set No. 2, Brooke Briscoe stepped to the serving line for Versailles with the Lady Tigers running the score to 20-2 and win 25-5 to go up 2-0 in the Saturday morning match.
“She went on a service run of 14 points in that second game which is awesome,” said Bruggeman. “I told here before the game, you just need to go after everything if you think you can get your hands on it, take it, and she did that quite a few times today.”
With Coach Bruggeman using her entire bench, the Lady Tigers took an early 8-2 third set lead bringing a timeout from the Northeastern bench. Versailles made it a double digit lead at 17-7 and 19-9 before settling in for a 25-17 third set win and claim the OHSAA DIII district title.
“Kirsten Bomholt is just such a force on the court,” said Bruggeman. “It is fun to see her be able to do that on game day. She works so hard in practice – it shows when it comes to game day.”
Coach Bruggeman complemented her entire team following the District Championship victory.
“I preach so much that we need everybody,” Bruggeman stated. “We even have four additional girls that practice with us every week. They are the reason that we play the way we play. Unfortunately their names don’t get to be in the newspapers or in the stat boards but we utilize them – it’s a good support group.”
