DISTRICT SEMIFINAL … Hilltop’s Brynn Rodriguez drives the ball through the attempted block by Courtney Wiemken (#11).
PHOTOS BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
FRONT LINE … Pettisville sophomore Addison Davis plays the ball at the net in a district semifinal win over Hilltop.
By: Nate Calvin
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
sports@thevillagereporter.com
ARCHBOLD (October 20, 2025) – Pettisville overcame early deficits in the first two sets and dominated the third for a straight set win over Hilltop in the Division VII district semifinals at Archbold.
Hilltop jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the opening set after a kill and ace from senior Brynn Rodriguez. Pettisville answered with an 8-3 run that was capped off by a Miriam Richer kill to put Pettisville in front 10-8.
A Rodriguez kill brought Hilltop back within 14-13 but a pair of kills by Addison Davis pushed the lead to 18-15.
After exchanging points, Pettisville put together a 5-0 spurt, keyed by three aces from Becca Strauss for a 24-16 lead, and Naomi Richer slammed home a kill to close out a 25-18 opening set win.
It was Hilltop again taking an early lead in the second set (4-3) followed by a 7-2 run to increase their advantage to 11-5.
Back came Pettisville with seven unanswered points as Naomi Richer registered three kills during the stretch and the Blackbirds took a 12-11 lead.
With the match tied 13-13, Pettisville engineered a 5-1 spurt, ending with a kill and a block from Davis for an 18-14 edge.
A kill by Naomi Richer pushed the lead to 23-18 before a 3-0 run by Hilltop trimmed the lead to 23-21. The Blackbirds would take two out of the last three points via kills by Naomi Richer for a 25-22 win.
Pettisville took control of the third set by breaking a 2-2 tie with a 7-0 surge to take a 9-2 lead which eventually became a 17-7 lead after a 6-1 run for the Blackbirds.
A trio of errors by Pettisville and an ace by Myah Higgins aided the Cadets in 5-0 run as they tried to claw back into the set at 17-12.
Pettisville maintained at least a five-point the rest of the way with a Miriam Richer kill providing the final point of the night to give the Blackbirds the sweep.
Naomi Richer had a double-double for Pettisville with 20 kills and 17 digs while Grace Hastings added 30 assists. Rodriguez fronted Hilltop with 14 kills, 13 digs and Hayden JoHantgen contributed 14 assists and 11 digs.
The Hilltop loss also marks the end of the career of head coach Janice Bruner, who announced her retirement from coaching prior to the season.
During her 39 years leading the Cadet volleyball program, Bruner’s teams amassed over 540 wins, won 14 Buckeye Border Conference championships, five district championships (1991, 1992, 1994, 2021, 2024), two regional championships (1991, 1992), two state tournament appearances (1991, 1992) and a Division IV state championship in 1991.
Pettisville will travel to Van Wert for their district final tonight versus No.1 seed Kalida (19-5).
Pettisville d. Hilltop 25-18, 25-22, 25-18
Pettisville (15-9): Grace Hastings – 30 assists, 9 digs; Naomi Richer – 20 kills, 17 digs; Becca Strauss – 13/13 serving, 5 aces, 11 digs
Hilltop (17-7): Halle Jones – 14 digs; Hayden JoHantgen – 37/37 setting, 14 assists, 11 digs; Kelsy Connolly – 11 digs, 59/60 setting, 11 assists, 7/11 serving, 3 aces; Brynn Rodriguez – 13 digs, 21/25 hitting, 14 kills