They gave it everything they had.
After falling behind two games to one in a best-of-five matchup, the Tecumseh Arrows fought back to send the Division One volleyball sectional finals to a deciding fifth set. They battled to tie the final game at 6-6, but Centerville pulled away late en route to a 23-25, 25-13, 25-11, 22-25, 15-9 marathon win over the Arrows, ending the Tecumseh season one step away from the districts.
“We started off with a lot of fire and played really well in the first set,” said Tecumseh coach Angie Lizza. “In the second set we struggled a bit and a lot changed when Caroline (Smith) was injured, our momentum changed a little bit and we weren’t doing the little things.”
“We didn’t give up and I am proud how well the kids played through it.”
The first set was even throughout, with both teams coming up with key plays at the net. Both Lindsey Nartker and Baylee Pursifull had kills early in the game, with the teams tied at ten.
Nartker then took over with three kills and a big block to give the Arrows a 16-15 lead, which started a run where the Arrows never trailed again in the opening game. Kirsten Nartker served four consecutive points to give Tecumseh an 18-15 lead, and the Arrows led until Centerville tied the game at 23. Pursifull picked up the game winning service point to give the Arrows the opening win.
Centerville’s Caroline Federinko opened the second game with five points to give the Elks a quick 5-0 lead before a Pursifull kill could break the momentum. Tecumseh could never get the game under their control, as the Elks pushed the lead out to 8-3 early.
Three kills from Nartker closed the gap to 9-6, but Centerville stepped up their game and pushed their lead out to 16-8. Smith had three points for Tecumseh to cut the deficit to 16-11, but the Elks pulled away from there and outscored the Arrows 9-2 the rest of the way.
Game three was much of the same, as the Arrows could never get the momentum. Tecumseh battled to within 15-11, but with Smith sidelined getting attention to a hand injury, the Elks took advantage of her being gone and reeled off ten consecutive points to take the 2-1 advantage.
With Smith back in the game, the Arrows settled down and battled through game four. After five early ties, Centerville pulled ahead 12-6 before the Arrows fought back. Four straight points from Kenzie Nabil brought the Arrows within 12-11, and later when Smith hit a floater which fell to the floor, the Arrows took the lead for good at 18-17.
Kirsten Nartker then reeled off four consecutive points as the Arrows had momentum leading 22-17, and a kill from Cara Willardson sealed the game for the Arrows, as it went to a deciding fifth set.
Tecumseh had their last lead in game five at 6-5, but the Elks outscored the Arrows 10-3 the rest of the way to earn the win.
Nartker led the way with 23 kills and 22 digs, while Pursifull added 14 kills, eight digs and two blocks. Smith dished out 43 assists and Kirsten Nartker recorded 22 digs and two aces.
The Arrows end the season with a 21-4 record, and were Central Buckeye Conference champions.
