Junior Krista Robejsek returned to action on Monday just in time to lead Kirtland to a 3-1 win over Pymatuning Valley in a Division III sectional semifinal at LaBrae High School.
Robejsek recorded 10 blocks and seven kills in the win while sophomore Katherine Skrbis pitched in with 13 kills and six digs.
“PV played a tough match,” said Kirtland coach Bob Schenosky. “Krista Robejsek after resting for a week came in and led our team at the net defensively while Katherine Skrbis led us with 13 kills. It was a solid team effort and it was nice to get the first win under our belt.”
With Robejsek and Skrbis dominating at the net, the Hornets went on to defeat the Lakers, 25-21, 24-26, 25-14 and 25-18.
“Sitting out last week was hard but it made (Monday’s) win so much more exciting,” Robejsek said. “Being back on the court with my team was a great feeling and I'm so excited to be able to advance with them. After resting for a week, I went into the game feeling refreshed which made it one of my favorite games of the season. I really feel like we have a chance to go far if we keep putting the same effort and heart into every game.”
Emily Nerderman recorded 39 assists and Lauren Snyder had 23 service points.
Freshmen Anna Robejsek and Anna Lewis also contributed to the win. Robejsek had five kills and six blocks while Lewis hammered home seven balls and had three digs.
The Hornets advanced to Wednesday’s sectional final against No. 3 seed Garrettsville Garfield. The game will be played at LaBrae High School at 7:00 p.m.
Junior captain Elise Frazee believes her team is poised for an upset.
“Our team was super psyched going into today's game knowing every set mattered and anything can happen,” she said. “We worked so hard together and never gave up on each other, which was vital to staying strong to get our win. Now we know we are capable of playing with teams we've never seen before, giving us a boost of confidence for our game against Garfield on Wednesday.”
