Mustangs Rally Past No. 5 North Branch in First-Ever BWAC Match
By Dan Stickradt
Macomb Lutheran North’s Leighton Garner (7) delivers this kill attempt during a volleyball quad on September 12, 2024. Garner and the Mustangs upset Division 2 fifth-ranked and state powerhouse North Branch in five sets Thursday night in their Blue Water Area Conference debut. (DAVID DALTON — For MediaNews Group)
Macomb Lutheran North is only in its first school year as a member of the Blue Water Area Conference and the Mustangs are already making headlines.
Lutheran North’s girls volleyball team’s first league game Thursday in the eight-school BWAC resulted in a stunning, five-set comeback against Division 2 fifth-ranked North Branch, as the Mustangs rallied past the Broncos, 22-25, 26-28, 25-23, 25-19, 15-12.
It was the eighth straight win for Lutheran North, which improved to 12-1-0 overall and 1-0 in the BWAC.
North Branch – which has reached the state finals nine times in its storied history with five state championship trophies and four state runner-up showings in its clutch – took a commanding 2-0 lead thanks to a pair of close wins (25-22, 28-26) during the first two sets.
The Mustangs refused to go away and fought back to win the final three games (25-23, 25-19, 15-12) and earn their first-ever BWAC victory – and make a statewide statement into the Division 2 arena.
Junior outside-hitter Lily Verbeke led the Mustangs’ offensive attack with 17 kills while adding 12 digs and 18 serve receptions. Senior hitters Leighton Garner and Delaney Behring each added with 11 and 9 kills, respectively, while senior Lily Leinberger also recorded nine kills for unranked Lutheran North.
Senior libero Victoria Burnham led the defensive effort in the five-set thriller after recording 50 digs and 25 reception. Sophomore Sammy VanSteenkiste contributed 34 receptions, 16 digs and five kills. North also received strong play from its setters, sophomore Juliette Godwin finished with 25 assists and 13 digs, while junior Eleanore Martin added 18 assists and 12 digs.
Article originally posted by The Macomb Daily