By TOM NYHUIS
Niles Daily Star

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.

“Tonight we struggled to really keep and maintain the momentum of the game,” coach Lisa Holok stated after the match. “Edwardsburg was relentless on defense and we just could not respond with the same effort tonight. We really never seemed to all be on the same page and that is really frustrating.  It was a tough conference loss for us but we will continue to learn and build toward the future. ”

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.

“We have been really trying to focus in making them fight and work hard,” Benjamin said. “I have a great group of girls this year with great leaders and that is what I’ve been loving this season already. We haven’t been able to clutch a lot of wins yet but I have a really great team and focusing on working hard and that showed tonight.”

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.

Buchanan statistics
Alexis Lenox 7 kills 13 digs 30 assists
Audrey Oake 11 kills 2 blocks 6 digs
Desiree Scoggin 6 kills
Kirsten Smallwood 4 kills
Rachel Briggs 2 kills 4 digs 2 aces
Kelsie Patrick 5 kills
Ashley Luzardre 4 digs
Rachel Downs 2 blocks 22 digs
Brooke Shultz 8 digs

Edwardsburg statistics
Elise Mackling – 11 kills, 2 blocks, 27 digs, 1 ace
Emily Kozinski – 6 kills, 3 blocks, 16 digs, 1 ace
Erin Burks – 4 kills, 10 blocks, 1 ace
Maddi Mueller – 22 digs, 1 kill, 2 aces
Jenn Mackling – 12 assists,  6 digs, 3 aces
Emily Getz – 8 assists, 3 kills, 1 block, 2 aces, 7 digs

Varsity records
Buchanan 7-7-2
Edwardsburg 7-5-1