CENTERBURG — The Centerburg Trojans volleyball team confirmed two things on Thursday night. First of all, they are the best team in the Mid-Buckeye Conference in 2012. Secondly, they’re only human.
Despite losing the opening set against the visiting Utica Redskins, the Trojans (20-2, 14-0 MBC) regrouped and won the final three sets to finish the regular season as the undefeated MBC champions, winning in four sets, 19-25, 25-12, 25-18, 25-18.
“It feels really great,” said Centerburg’s Tristen Simpson, who had 17 kills. “We’re changing leagues next year and we are the team that finished it off with (this alignment of) the MBC. It’s also great, in our senior year, to win it. It was awesome.”
Setter Kendall Compton, who led the Trojans with 33 assists, was especially happy for the seniors.
“I feel great,” said Compton. “It’s the second year in a row for us. I just wanted us to do it for our seniors because that’s just about our whole team. We knew it would be a tough match.”
By winning the first set, Utica (15-7, 12-2 MBC) became the only MBC team to take a set from the Trojans in 2012. That’s small consolation to the Redskins, who came into Centerburg looking for a share of the league title.
Utica, with Rachel Londot and Lareese Marston serving, broke it open in the first set. Londot scored with an assist from teammate Alex Preston (seven digs and 12 assists) to break a 10-all tie. Londot scored twice more, followed by teammates Samantha Wilson (three kills) and Abby Swartz (four aces, 10 digs, six kills). A Londot ace increased the Redskins’ lead to 18-12.
“We were so excited,” said Rachel Londot. “We were happy we took a set. That was more than we have done against Centerburg in a while. We wanted to fight back. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get it done but we worked hard and we’re proud of how we did.”
Centerburg relied on their experience to weather the storm.