Listen live online Thursday at 6 p.m. on the Slocum Sports Network to the MHSAA District #1 championship with the Kalamazoo Central Maroon Giants hosting the Mattawan Wildcats. K-Central defeated Portage Central Monday and St. Joseph Wednesday to advance, with Mattawan downing Portage Northern Monday and Lakeshore Wednesday.
These teams met two weeks earlier in Kalamazoo with Mattawan earning a four-set victory, 25-23, 25-21, 26-28, 25-21. Natalie Foster led the Wildcats that night with 20 kills, followed by Kathryn Puzevic’s 17 kills and 25 digs from Allie Wiese. The Maroon Giants got 11 kills from both Kennedy Livers and Josephine Fonger, along with 34 digs by Julia Naranjo.
The Wildcats enter the match at 38-7 on the season with Kalamazoo Central at 34-15-1. Mattawan is looking for their second district title in three seasons, hoping to best their first-ever state quarterfinal appearance in 2015. The Maroon Giants last claimed a district crown in 2002.
Listen live to Thursday’s district final live online on the Slocum Sports Network with first serve set for 6 p.m. from Kalamazoo Central. The winner moves to the Regional semifinal Tuesday at St. Johns against either St. Johns or DeWitt.