FLINT Tuesday night was new territory for each member of the Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest volleyball team. The Crusaders were making their first state quarterfinal appearance since 2019, and up against ninth-ranked Saginaw Valley Lutheran. It’s safe to say, Lutheran Northwest was feeling the nerves. The Crusaders dropped the opening nine points of the match, and the first eight of the second set. That dug a hole that Lutheran Northwest couldn’t get out of, as it fell to the Chargers in the D3 quarterfinal 25-20, 25-3, 25-21. “It’s a big stage to play on. This is the first time that our school won the regional final since 2019, so none of these girls were in high school yet. I think (Tuesday) was just a little bit of nerves, and a little bit of a timid attitude,” Lutheran Northwest coach Sabrina Fanning said. The 9-0 deficit in the first set proved to be too great to overcome, but the Crusaders (18-16-1) did still keep the opener competitive. They got the score within two points at 19-17, but the Chargers (51-10-3) drove the set home behind the attack of middle Linden Pomaville. “I just tried to remind them that we’ve been doing this for months. Since August, since all of preseason, we’ve been working hard,” Fanning said of what she told her team. “It’s just another volleyball game.” In the second, it was all Valley Lutheran. The Chargers were dominant from the service line and kept Lutheran Northwest from getting into an offensive groove. Valley Lutheran was also able to find a home for many attacks, as their middle hitters used off-speed swings to place the ball where the Crusader blockers weren’t. Photo gallery of Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest vs. No. 9 Saginaw Valley Lutheran in a D3 volleyball quarterfinal at Mott CC “We’re patient,” Valley Lutheran coach Jon Frank said of his middles. “If those open spots present themselves, the point is the point, whether it’s pretty or not, and they bought into that. I’m super proud of them, because it’s like they like winning more than they like swinging hard.” Lutheran Northwest would hold its only lead in the match during the third set. It’s last lead would come at 9-6 before the Chargers went on a 6-0 run. “I think our energy was a lot better in the first and third set,” Fanning said. “We had a really had a hard time passing and with our serve receive in the second set.” Valley Lutheran had more balance in its offense thanks to junior setter Kate Belt, who picked up 28 assists in the win. Belt spread the ball out well, with four different players racking up at least five kills. Pomaville, Braelin Rodammer, and Grace Parker each led the way with eight kills. Lutheran Northwest junior Charlotte Gramzow led the Crusaders with 13 kills. Gramzow has been the lead hitter for Lutheran Northwest all season. “She’s a great player. She’s just fabulous all around,” Fanning said of Gramzow. “She’s our captain this year. I think that she does a great job of leading the girls and executing out there. When we are in tough spots, she’s our go-to. You can see that on the court. She wants every ball to come to her every single time, and she’s giving it her all.” Addie Troska added five kills for the Crusaders, while Keaira Spiehs had four. Becca Pavlik added 18 assists. Lutheran Northwest closes its 2025 season with an 18-16-1 record, but can add a regional title to its trophy case for the first time in six years. “We started off slow and really were working our way back throughout the season,” Fanning said of her team. “A lot of people didn’t think we were going to get to the regional final at all. So, being able to win it is awesome. This is just a great group of kids, and I’ve been privileged to coach them this year.”.
https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2025/11/19/quarterfinal-nerves-get-to-lutheran-northwest-in-three-set-loss-to-valley-lutheran/
Quarterfinal nerves get to Lutheran Northwest in three-set loss to Valley Lutheran
