With one of its mainstays out of the lineup this week, some might have had questions about how sharp and cohesive Franklin would be with a slightly different lineup as postseason play dawned. Any such questions got answered quickly and emphatically on Thursday evening.
The host Grizzly Cubs made quick work of East Central in their Class 4A sectional opener, steamrolling the Trojans at the outset and putting away a 25-5, 25-9, 25-21 victory.
Franklin (21-8) will face Columbus East in a semifinal match on Saturday morning; it defeated the Olympians in straight sets back on Aug. 17.
“We’ve practiced really hard all week,” said junior libero Kate Pinnick, who had 22 digs and three service aces on the night. “We all have been supporting each other and working together really, really hard to get the win.”
The Grizzly Cubs didn’t leave anybody in suspense during the first set on Thursday, scoring the first five points of the match and storming out to a 19-2 lead. Aubrey Runyon, Brooklyn York and Veronica Whitaker all had multiple kills during that stretch, with Kate Pinnick and Maggie Doty each adding a pair of service aces.
Errors on serves — three in a row went into the net at one point — and on attacks allowed the Trojans to take the second set a little bit deeper, with the score at 17-8 before a Runyon kill and a Pinnick ace sparked a closing surge for the Grizzly Cubs. Sophomore Addison Martin had her star turn during the second, collecting four kills and a block.
East Central (16-15) didn’t score a point on its own serve until midway through the second set.
“The first two (sets) we came out really focused on what we were going to do,” Franklin coach Pat Carlson said. “I’d watched them play Saturday, and we watched film on them, so we had a pretty good idea of what they were all about. So that helped, knowing what they were going to be doing. I just liked our kids’ focus.”
The third set saw Franklin score nine of the first 10 points, making it appear as though another quick finish was imminent. The Trojans, though, were able to battle back from a 19-9 deficit to get to within two points at 23-21 before senior Scarlett Kimbrell hammered home a kill and then served out match point to end it.
Carlson’s faith in his team never wavered; he didn’t call a timeout all match.
“I just thought they started playing better in the third,” he said. “I didn’t think we were doing anything wrong.”
Martin and York each finished with eight kills to lead Franklin, with York adding three solo blocks and a block assist. Runyon had seven kills, while senior setter Kennedy Urban dished out 28 assists.
With the first tourney match out of the way, the Grizzly Cubs can now focus their energy on the Olympians, who defeated them in a five-set sectional final a year ago after a late injury sidelined Urban.
“We’re really motivated,” Pinnick said. “We really thought we were going to get it last year, and then when we didn’t, it just motivated us a lot to get it.”
At 10-21, Columbus East might be down this year, but Carlson has cautioned his squad against taking anything as a given.
“You have to rip that sectional trophy away from them,” Carlson added, “because they’re not going to give it away.”
