Marlette, Beal City also earn trip to Battle Creek
PONTIAC -- The top-ranked volleyball team in Class-B has taken another step closer towards erasing the memories of a bitter setback one year ago.
Behind another dominant performance, the North Branch Broncos swept Marysville to earn a second consecutive trip to Battle Creek for the state volleyball semi-finals. The Broncos will now battle Cadillac at 5:30 p.m. on Friday for the right to play for the state title the following day. Cadillac defeated Fruitport on Tuesday night - the same team which shocked North Branch last year in the state semi-finals to abruptly end their season.
Joining the Broncos as a Mid-Michigan representative at Battle Creek will be the Red Raiders of Marlette, who breezed past Allen Park Cabrini in a Class-C state quarterfinal in straight sets. Marlette will take on Ravenna, who defeated Byron in four sets to prevent an all-Mid Michigan semi-final matchup. That match takes place at 2 p.m. on Friday. The third Mid-Michigan representative in Battle Creek comes from Class-D, as Beal City crushed Leland in straight sets. The Aggies will oppose Battle Creek St. Phillip at 2 p.m. on Thursday.
While three Mid-Michigan teams are headed to the state semi-finals, three other schools saw their journeys fall short. In Class-A, Lapeer East fell in four sets at the hands of Farmington Hills Mercy, while Deckerville bowed to Auburn Hills Oakland Christian in straight sets. As mentioned before, Byron fell to Ravenna in a Class-C battle.
