By YVETTE LANIER

Sports News Writer

GAYLORD In volleyball, momentum can be your best friend one minute and your worst enemy the next.

For the Onaway Cardinals that friendship didn't last past the second game.

A seven-point rally by Johannesburg-Lewiston shifted the game in the second set, and before the Cardinals knew it momentum was hanging out with their opponent, and carrying Joburg to a 3-1 match win Wednesday at Gaylord St. Mary, ending Onaway's run at a fourth district title.

"We had the momentum after the second game," said Joburg coach Kristine Peppin, who knew if her team wanted to go all way in the district it had to knock off powerhouse Onaway. "We were absolutely on fire. They were down on their passes from that second game and we were able to go on a run, right until the end of the third to really open it up. The girls were very confident in their hitting, whether we are up or whether we are down, they keep going at the ball.

"They don't give up no matter what the score is."

A kill byAmanda Pomranke closed the first game of the match with Onaway taking a 25-23 win. Staring down a 9-3 hole, a hitting error by Onaway was all Joburg needed to get its offense riled up, as it went on a scoring spree, earning seven points. With the momentum in Joburg's favor, it managed to hold on for a 28-26 win. Now, it was the best two out three. Joburg jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third game and stayed in the driver's seat until an Onaway error gave Joburg a 25-16 win.

Onaway never regained control of the game. Missed serves and hitting errors continued to hurt its chances of ever making a comeback. Mary Schlicher had a kill to seal the 25-11 win and advance to the final round of the district playoffs.

Onaway coach Steve Watson said his team was off on Wednesday and didn't make the plays it would normally make. As Joburg's fans' screams of excitment grew louder with every point scored, he said his saw his girls confidence beginning to slip away.

"You can see the players breaking down as the match went on," Watson said. "We let it get to us a little too much after we lost game two.

"They wanted it and we just didn't serve receive well at all tonight. We did not put the ball away like we normally do. We just kept it in play or hit it out, and you can't do that. You can't do that if you want to win volleyball matches."

Watson said his players have nothing to hang their heads about, and he believes they had a great season. Seven seniors are leaving this year, but he expects his team will be back as a force next year.

"I'm really proud of what they've done this year," Watson said. "This is the best group of girls we've had."

If we can play we're playing at the level, we can beat a team that go up against.

By YVETTE LANIER

Sports News Writer

GAYLORD In volleyball, momentum can be your best friend one minute and your worst enemy the next.

For the Onaway Cardinals that friendship didn't last past the second game.

A seven-point rally by Johannesburg-Lewiston shifted the game in the second set, and before the Cardinals knew it momentum was hanging out with their opponent, and carrying Joburg to a 3-1 match win Wednesday at Gaylord St. Mary, ending Onaway's run at a fourth district title.

"We had the momentum after the second game," said Joburg coach Kristine Peppin, who knew if her team wanted to go all way in the district it had to knock off powerhouse Onaway. "We were absolutely on fire. They were down on their passes from that second game and we were able to go on a run, right until the end of the third to really open it up. The girls were very confident in their hitting, whether we are up or whether we are down, they keep going at the ball.

"They don't give up no matter what the score is."

A kill byAmanda Pomranke closed the first game of the match with Onaway taking a 25-23 win. Staring down a 9-3 hole, a hitting error by Onaway was all Joburg needed to get its offense riled up, as it went on a scoring spree, earning seven points. With the momentum in Joburg's favor, it managed to hold on for a 28-26 win. Now, it was the best two out three. Joburg jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third game and stayed in the driver's seat until an Onaway error gave Joburg a 25-16 win.

Onaway never regained control of the game. Missed serves and hitting errors continued to hurt its chances of ever making a comeback. Mary Schlicher had a kill to seal the 25-11 win and advance to the final round of the district playoffs.

Onaway coach Steve Watson said his team was off on Wednesday and didn't make the plays it would normally make. As Joburg's fans' screams of excitment grew louder with every point scored, he said his saw his girls confidence beginning to slip away.

"You can see the players breaking down as the match went on," Watson said. "We let it get to us a little too much after we lost game two.

"They wanted it and we just didn't serve receive well at all tonight. We did not put the ball away like we normally do. We just kept it in play or hit it out, and you can't do that. You can't do that if you want to win volleyball matches."

Watson said his players have nothing to hang their heads about, and he believes they had a great season. Seven seniors are leaving this year, but he expects his team will be back as a force next year.

"I'm really proud of what they've done this year," Watson said. "This is the best group of girls we've had."