PHOTO BY ANGIE CHARLES
Kent Roosevelt junior Alli Cudworth put away 26 hits on Monday during the Rough Riders' 5-game sectional semifinal win over Aurora. Last week, Cudworth pounded what is believed to be a state-record 48 kills in one match.
STOW, Ohio -- Middle blocker Cortnee Bowser registered six blocks in a decisive Game 5 and Kent Roosevelt advanced to a sectional volleyball final with a 25-19, 14-25, 19-25, 25-22, 15-8 win over Aurora on Monday night at Stow-Munroe Falls HS.
Bowser, a 6-foot-3 sophomore, had four straight solo blocks to lift the Rough Riders after the match was tied 2-2 and finished the night with 12 blocks.
"She put the girls on her shoulders," Kent Roosevelt coach Kasey Adelman said. "Cortnee's huge blocks gave us energy and momentum."
Kent (18-4) rallied from a 2-1 deficit to overtake the Greenmen (13-11).
"We lost some energy and excitement," Adelman said about trailing Aurora after three games. "But it was good to get a hard-fought win in that gym."
Junior Alli Cudworth, who just last week set what is believed to be a state record with 48 kills in a conference-championship win over Crestwood, pounded 26 kills to defeat Aurora.
"Alli had some huge kills for us," Adelman said.
Cudworth has had four matches this season with 30 or more kills.
No. 4 seed Kent Roosevelt will meet No. 6 Boardman on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
In other sectional matches:
SOUTHEAST 3, RAVENNA 0. At Youngstown, Emily Willis and Alana Woodard tallied 13 and 11 kills, repsectively, as the Pirates (17-6) slammed PTC opponent Ravenna (3-20).
Willis also had five aces and Woodard nine digs and three aces as well.
Southeast advances to play No. 4 seed West Branch on Wednesday at Boardman High School.
OBERLIN FIRELANDS 3, NORTON 0. At LaGrange Keystone, Norton (12-10) lost a Division II sectional match while struggling to find consistency with its attack.
Firelands won 25-22, 25-19, 25-23. Norton led 8-0 in Game 3 and then faded.
COPLEY 3, CLOVERLEAF 2. At Barberton, the Indians outlasted the Colts in a 5-game marathon, winning 25-22, 25-21, 22-25, 25-27, 20-18.
Copley advances to play Firestone on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
BLACK RIVER 3, RICHMOND HEIGHTS 0. At Elyria, in a Division III bracket, Danielle Wright collected six kills and five aces for the Pirates (9-13). Black RIver will meet No. 3 seed Lutheran West on Wednesday at Elyria West HS.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 3, MOGADORE 0. At Salem, the Wildcats fell despite eight kills and seven blocks from Makenzie Williams.
Aquinas rolled to victory 25-23, 25-11, 25-13 and put an end to Mogadore's season.
Grace Reilly had 17 assists and six service points and Carley Hurley 30 digs for the Wildcats.