Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes The Crestview celebrate following a scored point during the first set of their 3-1 win over Lakeview on Wednesday evening. The Rebels advanced to the district finals Saturday night at Grand Valley High School.

ORWELL — When Crestview saw that Lakeview was dropped down to Division III this volleyball season, the Rebels knew that a difficult challenger was added to their playoff district.

To say that the Bulldogs have been formidable might be selling it short as they’ve dominated the local area over the past few seasons, but the Rebels proved their mettle, taming the ‘Dogs 3-1 to advance to the Division III Orwell district final at Grand Valley High School.

“I’m so proud of my girls, I told them at the beginning of set four that nobody expected us to go three,” said Crestview coach Alisha Auer. “Two great volleyball teams, very intense high level of play, it was a fun game, so proud of my kids for playing so hard.

“It’s confidence, we had a very successful early season, we had a confidence lag in the middle, and now it’s building back up again, so I feel like it’s where we need to be in the playoffs.”

Both squads traded blows, with the Rebels coming out on top with 25-23, 25-22 set wins to earn an invaluable 2-0 lead over Lakeview. Not one to shy away from a fight, the Bulldogs battled and clawed back.

Staying focused was key.

“We just got to come back with a well-rounded team ourselves, we just have to trust in each other, and play with our own confidence and know that everyone is going to go for each ball,” said junior Grace Auer. “We just have to push each other and push for every single point.

“We just wanted to touch every single ball, we knew that every point mattered and we knew that if we let them go on a run or anything they’re just going to take off because they’re just that good of a team.”

The philosophy of every point representing its worth in gold has been a mantra for Crestview this season. They concluded their 2021 season with a 15-13 loss in the final set to Independence in regional play.

Those few points have resonated with the Rebels for a while.

“That’s fun volleyball, the point for point,” said Alisha Auer. “In that point for point back and forth, it’s intense, fun volleyball, and it really counts. They love this type of volleyball and they thrive on it. We have very intense practices, and that’s when the best comes out of them.”

Winning 25-13 in the fourth set, Lakeview felt life being brought back into their season, going back point for point against the Rebels throughout the fourth game, but Crestview came out on top when the dust settled 25-20.

“We just wanted to pick up every ball, we wanted to touch every ball. Blocking was a really big aspect on this one, because we wanted to touch every one to get it stopped down,” said sophomore Abbey Emch. “I love this kind of volleyball, it’s just so intense, and Lakeview was just a really good team to play intense with. We just needed to be confidence, and know we got this, and that we’re family, and we can just push on every single point.”

Emch tallied 23 kills along with six blocks. Grace Auer added 22 kills, 22 assists, and two blocks. Lainey Auer led Crestview with 18 assists.

Lakeview (21-4) sees their season end, along with the careers of Maggie Pavlansky, Tara Lytle, Emma Schmader, Maddie Bayus, and Brooke Schneider.

“I think we’re both good teams, we just needed to capitalize more on their weakest spot of their game and we just didn’t do that tonight,” said Bulldogs coach Heather Guthrie. “That comes from the girls, they have to bring the (intensity), and they realized that after the first set that they had to bring their intensity, and they definitely brought it into the second and third set.”

“Honestly, it has to come from them, we’re not out there playing. We told them that we can match up against anybody physically, but our energy and our mental game had to step up tonight.”

Crestview moves on to face Kirtland at Grand Valley High School at 7 pm on Saturday night with hardware on the line. Only Grace Auer, junior Emily Downey, and Emch return as starters from last year’s district title-winning squad.

“We knew how far we got last year, and we wanted to step right back in that spot, and this year our goal is to get back there and even further,” said Grace Auer. “Everyone coming in knew where we wanted to be and how hard we had to fight and push to play just to get back there today.”

“I definitely think this is a very special group of girls, we play so well together. We’re like a family, we just all have such a good chemistry.”