Whitko’s Haley Yohe tries to get a tip around two LaVille blockers during the Lady Wildcats’ 3-1 win Thursday in the Central Noble Volleyball Sectional. (Photos by Mike Deak)

ALBION – Needing something, anything, Whitko just needed its to find its own confidence. “We’re back!” echoed from the bench during a timeout in the third game, and despite needing four frames to knock out LaVille 25-14, 25-17, 24-26, 25-15 in Thursday’s volleyball sectional at Central Noble, the Lady Wildcats found the mojo that briefly escaped under the net.

Emily Day gets low to dig a LaVille attempt.

After a pretty elementary first two games for Whitko, the Lady Wildcats found themselves down 15-10 in the third game as the Lady Lancers finally mounted consistent offense. But getting back into the formation that has carried Whitko all season, Kaitlyn Reed rotated to outside left hitter and began to pound away. A pair of kills and a couple errors and it was tied 15-15, which prompted the declaration from the Whitko bench during a LaVille timeout.

“They knew from the first game they could go out and do this, and could and probably should have put it away in three,” stated a relieved Whitko head coach Jamie Stidham. “We lost a little focus in that third game, but we got it back. It’s a good feeling and we’ll take our time preparing for Saturday.”

Reed would hammer home four more kills in the game, but a pair of tips at the net by LaVille with the score knotted at 24 sent the match into a fourth game.

No problem for Whitko, which stole back the momentum immediately in racing to a 10-4 lead after an ace and kill from Reed. What worked for most of the night was now working in unstoppable fashion for Whitko as Reed swung away with LaVille able to do little with the huge swings. Reed finished with 22 kills, 13 digs, two aces and two blocks, but was the lynchpin of the offense. When she went, so went Whitko.

Emily Hughes takes a swing for Whitko.

“Kaity can play anywhere, but she really likes being on the outside,” Stidham said. “I think she feels most comfortable on the outside, and you’ll see our offense pick up when she starts to swing away.”

Lyndsey Sapp added in seven kills and Emily Day five kills for Whitko, which had 40 assists from Haley Yohe. Whitney Marsh added three kills and three aces. Whitko had four players combine for over 30 digs.

Whitko (20-12) will move into the semi-finals against Class 2-A No. 9 Westview, which did a number in walloping Fremont 25-12, 25-7, 25-7 in the night’s first game. Featuring the prowess of Maria McCoy and Gracie Hales, the Lady Warriors are rolling at 28-5 overall. Saturday’s showdown is the type of match Stidham’s club is looking forward to.

“We have been focusing on being quicker on the block and moving on defense,” Stidham said in trying to defend Westview. “We will do what we need to to stay in front of (McCoy) and try to make her hit away from her comfort zones. Hopefully we can outwork them and get through.”

Game one Saturday at Central will feature Bremen (19-14) and Prairie Heights (7-17) at 11 a.m., followed by Whitko and Westview. Bremen reached the semis with a 3-0 win Tuesday against Central Noble. The championship game is slated to being at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Kaitlyn Reed serves to LaVille.