LADY BULLDOGS WIN DISTRICT TITLE

Volleyball fans looking for a tense, pressure-packed district final were in the wrong place if they came to Notre Dame High for the Class 2A, District 3 title game Wednesday night.

The championship match between the host Lady Bulldogs and Woodland Lady Cardinals had all the tension of an old rubberband.

But the Lady Bulldogs hardly seemed to mind, winning their third straight district title with a 15-4, 15-6 victory. Notre Dame, now 21-6-2, advances to sectional competition Saturday at Marble Hill against three other teams. Woodland completed its first season under coach Tammy Brock with record of 9-15-2.

Notre Dame's confidence was key to the victory. The Lady Bulldogs had already beaten Woodland earlier in the season and played very relaxed.

"You have to come out on the court with confidence," said senior middle hitter Jessica Hency. "Once we got a few points, it seemed like Woodland almost started hanging their heads a little bit. After that .. we just played our game."

Notre Dame's game appears to be unselfish team play. Several different players for the Lady Bulldogs contributed to the championship.

"We really had no major (individual) standouts, but that's the way we play volleyball," said second-year Notre Dame coach Janet Buchheit. "We play really well together as a team."

Senior outside hitter Jennifer Glueck led Notre Dame with eight kills. Glueck, a member of last year's 2A runner-up girls basketball team, is hoping to get the volleyball team its first-ever state berth.

"Notre Dame volleyball has never been to state," said Glueck, a three-year starter. "We're hoping to change that this year."

Hency, a two-year starter, added four solo blocks for kills and juniors Erin Vickery and Sara Westrich combined for five blocks and five assists. Junior Julie Martin also earned the praise of her coach.

"Julie did a another good job for us," said Buchheit. "She's been filling in really well in the back row, serving well and playing good defense."

Notre Dame opened an 8-1 lead in the first game before Woodland got three points, including an ace from Dianna Lukefahr, to close to 8-4. Lukefahr had five kills and Sarah Booth added three kills and 14 digs.

"We're a young team and we showed it on the court," said Brock. "We'd get a few points here and there, but couldn't seem to get them going in a row."

Notre Dame called timeout then reeled off the next seven points to close out the first game. Leading 11-4, Vickery and Westrich combined for three blocks on a long rally before Glueck finally got the point with a powerful kill to push the lead to 12-4.

Westrich closed out the first game with three service points, ending the game when Vickery converted a dig by Hency into the 15th point.

Woodland took its only lead of the night on a service point by Amanda Jordan to start the second game, but Notre Dame quickly took control.

Tied 2-2, Martin served four points to put Notre Dame ahead for good. Kelli Canfield had a powerful cross-court kill during that run and Hency and Bonnie Essner combined on a block that put Notre Dame up 6-2.

Notre Dame opened up an 11-3 lead and later closed out the win on a serve by Essner. Westrich dumped the ball over the net for the final point to earn the championship.

"We played really well overall," said Hency. "I wouldn't say this was the best game we played because we can play to a higher level and I hope we will in the sectional games."

* The Class 2A, District 3 team was named following the championship match. Members of the All-District First Team: Jennifer Glueck and Jessica Hency, Notre Dame; Dianna Lukefahr and Sarah Booth, Woodland; Angela Marquis, Bloomfield; Debbie Welker, St. Vincent.

Second team members: Kelli Canfield and Sara Westrich, Notre Dame; Lilo Whitener, Woodland; Brasley Mayabb, Bloomfield; Fara Galati and Jessica Lakenan, St. Vincent.