Dettling takes lead for SMCC against Erie Mason in District finals
BLISSFIELD – St. Mary Catholic Central has a lot of outstanding volleyball players.
Juniors McKenna Payne and Jessica Costlow already have committed to Division 1 college programs.
With that kind of talent on the roster, it’s not easy for a young player to get noticed.
But Madeline Dettling is doing a good job of make a name for herself.
The sophomore recently joined Payne and Costlow as All-Huron League selections, and Saturday, she tied Costlow for the team lead with 14 kills as the Kestrels rolled over Erie Mason 25-13, 25-7, 25-18 in the finals of the Division 3 District at Blissfield.
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“She took some good swings,” SMCC coach Cassie Haut said. “She’s young. People like to look at the juniors and seniors, but she has a lot of talent.”
Dettling was aggressive on the court but shy in a postgame interview. She didn’t want to talk much about herself.
“Everyone was pumped up today,” she said. “We give each other energy.”
Costlow took the lead early with 6 kills in the opening set.
Dettling asserted herself in the final two sets, recording 4 putaways in the second and six in the third – including the final point of the afternoon.
“We played really well,” Haut said. “We did a good job of playing our side of the court.”
The Kestrels boast a 30-8-1 record and are ranked No. 1 in the state. It was the 22nd consecutive District title for the Kestrels.
“We got contributions from everybody,” Haut said. “We were very well balanced.”
Payne led the Kestrels with 40 assists and 3 aces and added 8 digs.
Ashley Ruhlig and Costlow were tops with 12 digs apiece.
Jillian Anderson had 5 blocks,
SMCC was too much from Mason. The Eagles never held the lead at any point in the three sets.
“We knew SMCC would be really tough,” Mason coach Alyssa Kainz said. “I am proud of the girls for the way they fought. St. Mary was just better than us.”
Kainz used her timeouts liberally in an attempt to slow down the Kestrels.
"Sometimes you just want to give the girls a little break," she said.
Brooke Langenderfer led Mason with 15 assists, and Audrey Trainor recorded 10 digs. Beth Sweney was credited with 7 kills, Jada Sipert 5 blocks and Zoie Stubleski 5 kills and 6 digs.
Jayanna Willets and Rylee Grodi also played well on defense.
“As a first-year coach, we only lost one game in our league,” Kainz said.
Mason, which finishes with a 22-10 record, loses five seniors – Sipert, Trainor, Grodi, Geneva Bomia and Jenna Wright.
Wright was not available Saturday. She tore her ACL and MCL and broke her femur during a collision in the semifinals.
SMCC moves on to the Regional at Jackson Lumen Christi. The Kestrels will play Grass Lake at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
“Our goal is to go all the way,” Dettling said.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Sophomore steps up for SMCC in District championship match
