Romeo celebrates Coach Williams’ birthday with back-to-back district titles – Macomb Daily

Eleanor Williams and her Romeo volleyball teammates came up with the perfect birthday gift for their coach and Eleanor’s mother, Stacy.

It was a second straight district championship in Division 1.

The outside hitting of Eleanor Williams and Emma Rosenow, who combined for 30 kills, helped the Bulldogs to a 22-25, 25-15, 25-15, 25-18 victory against Dakota on Thursday in the district final at Port Huron High School.

“I still gave her a gift, but this is the best,” Eleanor said.

It was a tough district with four Macomb Area Conference Red Division teams in the field.

“We knew we needed a lot of urgency and aggressiveness. I just want it more than the other team,” said Eleanor Williams. “We needed that to get where we are now.”

Dakota reached the championship game by defeating the two Port Huron schools. Romeo advanced with wins against MAC Red foes Anchor Bay and L’Anse Creuse North.

“I don’t think I’ve seen a district with four MAC Red teams,” Stacy Williams said. “We knew we had a challenge ahead of us, but if we get through it, the victory will be even greater because we knew we had to play great teams and compete every night.”

The battle did not stop at the final, which consisted entirely of MAC Red.

The Cougars broke a tie at 22 all in the first game with three straight points, a block by Katerina Stout and kills by Stout and Kimora Hansbrough.

After Dakota won the first set, it was time for some soul searching for the Bulldogs.

“We said we’re not losing,” said Rosenow, who had a team-high 17 kills. “We won’t let this be our last game. We love each other too much to let this be our last match. I think we just wanted it more. That’s what it all came down to.”

There was also a coaching strategy involved.

“We had to tighten up our defense,” Stacy Williams said. “There was a big difference between our defense in the first set and our defense in the second set. When our defense gets going, our offense can get going as well. Our defense prevented us from playing a good offensive game.

“That was because of Dakota’s foul. They were hitting the ball. (Abby Wutka) crushed the ball. She is difficult to defend.”

Dakota led 7-4 in the second set, but Romeo made a 15-4 run and took a lead that he never relinquished. The Bulldogs finished on a 4-0 run with three of the points coming on kills by Rosenow.

Runs of 5-0 and 7-1 helped Romeo take away the third set.

“Volleyball is a huge momentum game and we didn’t do a good job of coming back after a few points were scored on us,” Dakota coach Melissa Criteser said. “We couldn’t come back with the confidence, drive and push you need.

“They are very competitive and big at the net. Their portion got the best of us tonight. Our serving-receiving passage was a little off. We knew it would be a tough match with Romeo. They wanted it a little more than we did. They kept us on our heels a little bit tonight.”

The Cougars did not go out without a fight and raced out to a 10-3 lead in the fourth set.

Then freshman Addison Bultynck took over for the Bulldogs; She served seven straight points, including two aces, and when a kill from Wutka ended the streak, Romeo led 12-11.

Stacy Williams called a timeout with the score 10-3.

“It was time to refocus and put things into perspective,” she said. “Between the third and fourth sets we got a little excited and looked too far ahead. We had to refocus and say we still have work to do. There is no party yet. They responded very well.

“Addison Bultynck got behind the service line and got us rolling. She kept it consistent and competitive on her serves so we could make a run. She is mentally strong in spirit. She doesn’t play like a freshman.”

Bultynck’s serve was not the only thing that made the difference in the deciding set. Late in the set she had consecutive kills from the right side and dove to get a dig that set up a kill by Christina Rosenow.

‘She’s great. She is crazy good, absolutely incredible for a freshman,” said Eleanor Williams.

“It’s been exciting to watch her grow throughout the year,” Emma Rosenow added.

The fourth set ended with a kill from Ava Blomquist, the only senior in Romeo’s regular rotation.

“Kaylah Liedke played a great game defensively,” Stacy Williams said. “Layla Babich just started playing volleyball in July and she has been very good as a first-year player. Christina Rosenow has become an integral part of our team.”

This was an unusual season for Dakota, finishing 14-22-1.

Photos from Romeo’s 3-1 district championship win against Dakota on Thursday

“We’ve been dealing with injuries all year,” Criteser said. “Our lineup has been different pretty much week to week. We looked at the districts as a fresh start into a new season and we were trying to reach the district finals. We came in tonight with energy. We studied film and knew what we wanted. I wish Romeo the best of luck in their run.

“I am proud of my team. They have worked hard all year. My seniors were huge. They have given us great leadership. They fought hard. They played hard. I couldn’t be happier. I hate to see it end.”

Wutka led the Cougars with 15 kills and four blocks. Stout had seven kills and two blocks. Olivia Thamarus finished with five kills, two ace serves and 13 digs.

Romeo advances to the Troy Region, where it will play Chippewa Valley of Fraser on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.