Newark Norsemen advance to Class 1A final after three-set win over Orion

Newark volleyball players will face Fulton for the Class 1A state title on Thursday evening after defeating Orion on Tuesday night in Kewanee. The Norsemen won the three-set match 25-23, 27-29, and 25-21 to end a four-game losing streak in sectional semifinals.

Newark enters the championship game with a 34-5 record and a seven-match winning streak. Their opponent, Fulton, holds a 32-5 record and has won its last 22 matches. Fulton defeated Brimfield in straight sets earlier on Tuesday to secure its spot in the final. The championship match is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at the Wethersfield Sectional site in Kewanee.

The match featured tight scoring throughout, with neither team establishing a comfortable lead. Newark coach P.J. McKinney described the contest as a series of short momentum swings. "This was a true battle of mini runs throughout the entire match," McKinney said. "Neither team would let the other get a comfortable lead. It was back-and-forth and just when you thought you had a good hold on momentum it would get taken away." McKinney noted that Orion presented a tough matchup, a team that had defeated Newark in two sets on Sept. 11 during the Williamsville Tournament.

Orion won the second set after fighting off three match points. A hitting error by Newark and a kill by Lyla Johnstone gave Orion the set. The Norsemen struggled in the opening 10 points of the third set, allowing Orion to build a 17-15 lead. However, the Newark defense tightened as the set progressed. McKinney said the team responded like it had all season, with defense playing a key role in the final points.

Newark turned the tide in the third set through key plays by its attackers. Junior Rylie Carlson recorded a sideout kill, followed by an ace from senior Ella Bromeland. Sophomore Zoey Carlson finished the match with three kills and a block on match point. The Norsemen had held a 23-19 lead in the first set before Orion narrowed the gap, but Newark closed out the set to take the opening frame.

Newark players contributed across multiple statistical categories. Zoey Carlson recorded 17 kills, four blocks, seven digs, and four aces. Rylie Carlson added 18 kills and 10 digs. Senior Taylor Jeffers provided 17 assists and seven digs, while Ella Bromeland recorded 16 assists. Junior libero Cayla Pottinger posted 22 digs, and freshman Sara Monsess added two kills and five blocks. Zoey Carlson said the team trusted each other to recover from mistakes, a mindset they maintained in the huddle before the third set.

On the Orion side, Ellie Knupp led the team with 11 kills, and Lyla Johnstone added eight kills. Ellie Mielke recorded a kill to cut the lead in the first set. McKinney said the team worked on blocking and defense throughout the season because of its strong hitting and setting. He said the team played well at the net and made plays that kept points alive. Newark will now prepare for the championship against Fulton, a team coming off a 22-match winning streak.