Hamilton eliminates Edwardsburg once again

Published 5:23 pm Saturday, November 16, 2019

By Hannah Holliday

OSTEGO — For the second consecutive year, Edwardsburg volleyball fell to Hamilton in the Division 2 regional championship match, but this season, the loss felt different.

The team, led by new head coach Nikki Bush, seniors Jocelyn Hack and Skyelar Burlingham, dominated on both defense and in attacking, earning the Eddies kills left and right. The team also gained a new setter in junior Emma Strefling, who sat out last year because of the transfer portal.

It took five sets for the regional champion to be crowned. The Eddies held on until the last set, but fell to the Hawkeyes 15-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-21 and 6-15.

Despite a loss, the accumulation of a seasons’ worth of progress was seen on the court, as juniors Sophia Overmyer and Paige Miller, added big kills and blocks during integral points of each set. Sophomore Macey Laubach also made big plays during her time on the court and teamed up with Miller at the net for blocks.

“We did well, but we win games when we serve-receive well and we didn’t serve-receive well today,” Bush said following the team’s loss.

Besides Hamilton’s early lead in the first and fifth sets, the score went back and forth in the middle three sets with the Eddies capitalizing on Hamilton’s mistakes.

Edwardsburg will return next season with six seniors. Bush is ready to “lock and load.”

“I have three sophomores on my team, and so they are going to step up,” she said. “As long as everybody steps up next year like they did this year, we will be fine.”

With one season coaching at Edwardsburg completed, Bush reflected on the experience, despite the team falling short of its goal.

“I got to hang out with 11 awesome girls, who were a ton of fun,” Bush said.

For Strefling, this season was more than just about making it to regionals, she was happy just to be back on the court. Following the fifth set, Strefling said she would miss playing alongside Burlingham and Hack, but looks forward to the future of next year’s team.

“I grew very close with the seniors this season,” she said. “We will still be just as strong. Hopefully, stronger next year, coming back to regionals to hopefully beat Hamilton.”

Playing against Hamilton was a good test for Strefling, as she took a few pointers when going up against big blockers and hitters.

“You need to learn that block or how to move that set,” she said. “I’ll definitely learn a lot from playing against them.”

All of the Eddies’ hard work built up to the fifth and final set. Hamilton gained an early lead with a kill and block from AJ Ediger. Overmyer responded with a kill. Ediger continued to dominate and Edwardsburg’s defense struggled to control Hamilton’s spikes.

During a timeout in the last set, Edwardsburg teammates huddled together. Bush stayed out of the huddle, Strefling could be seen talking to the group.

“I’m very happy to be able to play again,” Strefling said. “Sitting last year was very hard for me because I’m very competitive and I couldn’t really do anything to help.”

Following the loss, teammates hugged, seniors embraced their teammates, knowing this loss was different, as was this season.

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