Jorie Lucas goes up for a block durin Ogemaw's regional playoff loss to Sault Ste. Marie.
Linda Eyer
The Falcons' Emily Sheltrown tracks down a Sault Ste Marie hit during Thursday's regional semifinal match.

GAYLORD - Nov. 11, 2008 - Ogemaw Heights' first regional volleyball appearance in eight season ended more quickly than the Falcons would have liked Tuesday as Sault Ste. Marie eliminated them from post-season play in four games.

The Falcons and Blue Devils split the first two games, but the Soo turned it on in the third and fourth games for a 25-19, 17-25, 25-12, 25-19 victory.

"It was not the ending we were hoping for," said Falcon coach Diane Gillette. "The girls fought hard against the Soo and never gave up.

"The Soo is a good team with powerful hitters and we just could not get a block on them. We didn't control the ball on our side of the net which made it hard four our hitters to execute."

The Falcons were led by Lauren Gillette with 23 assists and 14 digs; Emily Sheltrown with seven kills and three aces; Jacie Lucas with 14 digs; Angela Carollo with six kills and two blocks; Jorie Lucas with 10 kills and 13 digs and Paige Bachelder with six kills and 14 digs.

The Blue Devils (46-9-4) move on to Thursday's regional title game against Petoskey, which upset Big North Conference champion Cadillac in the other semifinal, which was played in Traverse City. The regional tournament was originally scheduled to be played at Standish-Sterling but was moved north due to travel considerations.

The Falcons, in addition to finishing with a 29-9-4 record and winning a district championship, finished 9-3 in NEMC play (good for second place), won two in-season tournaments and took second place in another.

"The girls did some wonderful things," Gillette said. "I am very proud of what these girls have accomplished. I look forward to next year when we can make a run at everything again."