BERRIEN SPRINGS – The host squad was no match for Edwardsburg Saturday in the finals of the Berrien Springs Invitational.

The Lady Eddies defeated the Lady Shamrocks in the finals of their own volleyball tournament 25-11 and 25-22.

Edwardsburg reached the finals by splitting with Bridgman 16-25 and 25-14, defeating River Valley 25-15 and 25-19, defeating Decatur 25-17 and 25-18 and defeating Decatur 25-17 and 25-18.
In the semifinals, the Lady Eddies dispatched Eau Claire 25-11 and 26-24.

Elise Mackling had a big day for Edwardsburg with 47 kills, 29 digs, nine aces and eight blocks.

Emily Kozinski finished the tournament with 21 kills, 42 digs, eight blocks, four aces and three assists, while Emily Getz had 19 kills, 22 assists, 12 digs, 10 aces and eight blocks.

Edwardsburg also got 10 kills, 12 blocks and five aces from Erin Burks; nine kills and nine blocks from Ellen Miller; 53 assists, 18 digs and five aces from Jenn Mackling; and 36 digs, five assists and four aces from Paige Mueller.

Dowagiac was eliminated by Eau Claire in the quarterfinals.
The Chieftains defeated the host Lady Shamrocks in their opening match and then knocked off Lake Michigan Catholic in the second round.

“I warned the girls not to look past them,” Dowagiac coach Ryan Frontczak said about the quarterfinal match. “I really don’t know what it was, we just were in kind of a funk in that game. They ended up ending our day, but it wasn’t like they were really pounding the ball. They were just hitting those little in between balls the entire match. We just couldn’t read the hitters on their team.”

Frontczak said it was a frustrating day for the entire team because it was playing so well early on and then when it “came down to win or go home, we just didn’t put it together,” he said.

Alyssa Greenwood had 16 kills for the Chieftains, who also got 10 kills from Andrea Bradshaw and four from Kaisha Martin.

Danielle Taylor and Meghan Hojara had 14 and nine assists respectively.

Taylor Gross led the team in aces with four. Martin finished with three.