NILES – It came right down to the wire every game as the host Brandywine Bobcats, led by Kelsey Prestley’s sizzling slams, held off repeated rallies by the Cassopolis Rangers to win a tightly contested volleyball match on Wednesday night.

Winning by identical scores of 25-22 in all three matches the Bobcats managed to up their Lakeland Conference record to 2-0.

In the first game, Cass took a 3-0 lead on the strength of Jessica Biek’s strong serves.
After Brandywine had narrowed the Cass lead to 6-4, Angela Feathers extended the margin to 10-4 with some excellent service of her own aided by a timely dig by Stephanie Vlasicak. The Rangers increased their advantage to 13-7 with a Biek kill.

Then the momentum started to shift.

A tricky tip by Prestly began a Bobcat rally that included a key slam by Prestly, Lauren Leonard’s four consecutive serves that Cass couldn’t score on and Morgan Smallwood’s key block of a Ranger shot.

With Kaley Jones serving for the ‘Cats, they knotted the score at 19 apiece, and Brandywine took their first lead of the night when Mackenzie Shelton smashed a forehand past the helpless Rangers.

A kill by Jessica Cooper put the Bobcats up 22-20, but two quick tips in a row by Olivia Stewart brought the Rangers right back to 22 all.

A kill, a tip, and another kill by Prestly slammed the door in the faces of the visitors, 25-22.

A block and a shot that barely dribbled over the net were key efforts by Brandywine’s Cooper to start the second contest out with a 4-2 Bobcat lead.

Cass came right back sparked by a tip from Biek to take a 6-5 mount. The score swayed back and forth until deadlocked at 12-12, the Bobcats had another surge.

Propelled by Shelton’s mesmerizing serves, five unanswered points by the Bobcats had them ahead 17-12. Spikes by Leonard and Shelton and a tip by the ever-present Prestly had the ‘Cats on the threshold of victory at 24-19, but three aces in four serves by Biek brought Cass closer at 22-24.

Morgan Smallwood sealed the victory with a solid smash to shut the door again for a Brandywine triumph.

Olivia Stewart’s tip and Kristen Fitzsimon’s ace for the Rangers produced an early 3-3 tie in the third set.

The score was often equal at 5-5, 10-10, 12-12, 13-13, but the Bobcats started to pull away, thanks to a kill by Prestly followed by a great dig from Shelton.

An ace by Prestly paced the hosts to 20-15. Cass just wouldn’t yield. Biek’s ace and a tip by Stewart helped bring the Rangers close at 22-21.

Cooper and Prestly nailed two hard shots to forge a 24-22 Bobcat lead. A serve sent out of bounds by Cass ended the game and the match.

Edwardsburg…3
Buchanan…0
BUCHANAN – Playing to your potential wins games. And when your team isn’t playing to their potential it means taking a step back and making adjustments to get to that point of team play.

Edwardsburg came into Buchanan Wednesday evening playing at a level coach Sarah Benjamin was pleased with and left town with a 3-0  Lakeland Conference sweep of the Lady Bucks 25-20, 25-19, 25-23.

For the Lady Bucks they were never able to get their play though out the night to be consistent.

After dropping the opening game the Lady Bucks took early command in the second game taking a 9-3 advantage.

Edwardsburg girls didn’t panic and roared back to tie the game at nine and went on to take the win with their hustle and defense.

In the final game of the evening Buchanan held a 18-13 advantage but was unable to hang onto the lead dropping the final 25-23.