Birmingham, Macomb County, Macomb Township

Macomb Dakota volleyball advances to semifinals with win over Birmingham Seaholm

By Mark Vest
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « by Patricia O'Blenes Macomb Dakota's Megan Downey attempts to make a play during the Cougars' regional-final victory against Grosse Pointe South. Dakota has advanced to the semifinals after defeating Birmingham Seaholm 3-0 in a quarterfinal match. by Patricia O'Blenes Macomb Dakota's Megan Downey attempts to make a play during the Cougars' regional-final victory against Grosse Pointe South. Dakota has advanced to the semifinals after defeating Birmingham Seaholm 3-0 in a quarterfinal match.

Following Macomb Dakota's regional final victory against Grosse Pointe South Nov. 6, coach Tracie Ferguson said "next week is going to be a big deal for us, because we haven't done it yet. Dakota volleyball's never got past quarterfinals. I think that's going to be a big test for us."

Dakota passed that test, and made some history for the program with a 3-0 victory over Birmingham Seaholm in a quarterfinal game Nov. 13 at Oxford.

"Feels amazing," Ferguson said. "It's nice for the girls to be able to accomplish the goals they had set. They were very emotional (and) very excited. They're doing it with nothing but heart (and) desire. They're having fun with it. That's the best part. I'm really happy for them, our program and our school."

Next up for Dakota is a semifinal match against Northville, scheduled for 7:15 P.M. Nov. 16 at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek. The winner advances to the final the following day.

"They can't wait," Ferguson said. "They know what they can do, and they want to be able to do it all this year, hopefully, and have a nice big sendoff."

Ferguson has some ideas as to what the keys are to accomplish that.

"Staying focused, playing our game and playing at our pace."

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Mark Vest at mvest@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1112. Follow Mark on Twitter.