Spartan- Sam Vandewege started sitting on the bench. But Holland Christian Junior ended the game with his teammates shouting "MVP! MVP!" When he left the court.
“I didn’t play the first two (today’s game),” Vandewege said. "It's so stressful for me to sit in the last three playoffs of the tournament. It feels great to play again and be helpful."
Holland Christian defeated Grand Falls Christian in five games in the quarterfinals of 2 Boys Volleyball at Spartan High School on Tuesday.
"I'm proud that the team is stepping up when it matters," said Dutch Christian coach Mark Walraven. "We've been struggling with a slow starting point all season and today is no different. They dug deep."
Holland Christian reached the state semifinals at 1pm Friday in Hudsonville. The state championship game was held at 1 p.m. Saturday in Hudsonville.
When the Maroons lost their first two games 25-21 and 25-19 on Tuesday, they had to do something or the season ended.
So coach Wal Laven looked down at his bench and asked Van der Wigg if he could play.
"He didn't have a lot of warm-ups because we weren't sure if we were going to play him," Wallavin said. "We won't use him, but we were behind. He was obviously a big contribution to the team. He did a great job and made an impact for us."
Vandewege quits the warm-up and plays.
"The coach asked me if I could play," he said. "I looked back at my parents and they said 'Go!' If my parents are good for this, I'm going to play for my team."
He is the spark needed for maroon. They will rally to win the next two 25-11 and 25-18 games to force the fifth game.
"This is our fifth game of the year," said senior Grant Vanderzee. "The first two sets were the killers. We were frustrated with ourselves. Once the ball started to fall, we had a big lead in the third quarter. It was a good rally and we got the win."
Vanderzee was named the state's first ever volleyball award winner last week, and he won the fifth game.
“A lot of people know this is going to go to me,” he said. “It means a lot. We have one of the best racers in the state in Spencer Walraven.”
Vanderz doesn't play college volleyball. When he headed to Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, he planned to be a student. But he heard that the school might have a beach volleyball team. He plans to try.
Vandewege had to laugh when he shook hands with Grand Rapids Christians after the game.
“I played club volleyball with Jack (Scholten),” he said of the Eagles’ sophomore. “When I browsed my hand-stacked line, they told me they were disappointed that I was in the third game.”