Kalamazoo Christian volleyball defeated Niles Brandywine in four sets Tuesday in the second regional semifinal game at Bridgman. The Comets took the match 25-18, 21-25, 25-13, 25-12; sending KC to the regional final for the first time since 2016. Avery Ekkens led the Comet offense with 18 kills.
In the first set, K-Christian aces and serve receive struggles from the Bobcats pushed the Comets to a 25-18 victory. The second set was back-and-forth early before Brandywine was able to get ahead midway and hold onto a small lead. In the third and fourth sets, K-Christian would dominate as their height advantage gave them numerous blocks.
With the victory, Kalamazoo Christian improves to 23-5-1 and will face Schoolcraft (32-3) in the regional final, which you can hear live via JoeInsider.com Thursday at 7 p.m. ET from Bridgman. The Comets are looking for their first regional title since 2007 and trying to avoid getting knocked out by the Eagles for the fourth straight season.
Brandywine finishes at 13-5 and graduates seniors Kristen Alvord, Ann Youngs, and Kylie Myers.
Listen back to Tuesday’s broadcast here.
Kalamazoo Christian unofficial offensive stats
Avery Ekkens 18 kills, 2 aces, 1 block
Reagan Broekhuizen 8 kills, 4 blocks, 2 aces
Nyla deJong 8 kills, 2 blocks
Holland DeVries 4 kills, 4 aces, 1 block
Marisa Fetterley 3 kills, 4 blocks
Maegen Meldrum 1 kill
Ellie Batts 3 aces
Kylie Jonkman 2 aces
Brandywine unofficial offensive stats
Kristen Alvord 14 kills, 3 aces
Kadence Brumitt 8 kills, 1 ace, 1 block
Julia Babcock 2 kills, 2 blocks
Haley Scott 3 aces, 1 block
Elizabeth Stockdale 1 kill, 2 blocks
Jessica Willimason 1 ace
Ellie Knapp 1 kill
Clara DePriest 1 kill, 1 block