Arrowhead topples Marquette, advances to state title game
ASHWAUBENON - In a full circle moment, the two teams that opened their season against one another squared off Friday night for a chance to play in the state boys volleyball championship match.
Arrowhead was looking to avenge last season's state title game loss to Catholic Memorial; Marquette was trying to win its 10th state title, which would be the most all time for the sport.
The schools split the series, 2-2, but in the rubber match it was the Arrowhead Warhawks who proved dominant, taking the match in straight sets, 25-21, 25-15, 25-21, at the Resch Center.
“I bet if we played 10 times, it goes 5-5,” Marquette coach Jake Cosson said. “That's how it's been all year.”
Arrowhead coach Dennis Mechenich echoed the difficulty, commending his team for putting together a perfect game when needed most.
“It was amazing for these guys to play on the big stage and play their best match of the season. Like literally that was the best we played against a really, really good team. We've seen Marquette four times this year and we've split with them. To play like they did with with their intensity and the way we serve the ball against a really good passing team ... it was fun to coach and I'm glad to get to play one more day.”
For what would become such a long and grinding match, perhaps it's fitting that match point in the first set came off the defensive prowess of the Warhawks. Like it did for much of the night, Arrowhead constructed a wall at the net; an emphatic block from Logan Neitzel and Ethan Dassow wrapped up the opening portion with a 25-21 score.
“I feel like we definitely started with high energy this time,” libero Nikko Javier said, “and since we got up right away and like got our student section hyped, we just cruised.”
Dassow, along with Ezekiel Jalan, opened things up in the second set with another huge block, setting the tone for the middle window. Fundamental mistakes from Marquette allowed Arrowhead to build a substantial lead in the second. It was mistakes the Hilltoppers couldn't afford to make, Cosson said.
“They played really well and we did not. We didn't play well because of the way they played. They beat us at our own game.”
Until over midway through the third set, no team had a lead of more than two. If the first set was a grind, this one was shaping up to be a grudge match, with Marquette looking to save its season. Tied at 20-all, the Warhawks turned on the attack, finishing with five kills to send them back to the state championship. It was befitting of the night, which saw Arrowhead notch 46 kills (led by senior Charlie Andorfer with 14) to the Hilltoppers 27 total.
Arrowhead was set to face Middleton on Saturday night for the state title.