By SCOTT NOVAK
Dowagiac Daily News

The Dowagiac varsity volleyball team picked up a much needed victory Thursday night with a 3-1 Wolverine Conference win over visiting Comstock.

The Chieftains took the first two sets by the narrowest of margins, and then dropped the third set before rebounding to blow out the Lady Colts in the final set.

In the end, Dowagiac owned a 25-23, 25-21, 20-25 and 25-11 victory over Comstock.
“Wow, finally some offense,” an elated Dowagiac coach Ryan Frontczak said. “This was a good feeling tonight. We were on a bit of a losing streak, but tonight our girls came out guns a blazing. We finally had offense, we were running all over the court on defense and we were having fun. That’s what Dowagiac volleyball is all about.”

The opening set saw both teams trade the lead back and forth, as well as battle through multiple ties.

After taking a 2-0 lead, Dowagiac fell behind only to knot the match at 12-12.
Devon Ownby served up two straight service winners to give the Chieftains a 14-12 advantage.

Comstock battled back and tied the score at 14-14. The score would be knotted five more times, including 22-22, before Dowagiac was able to pull ahead and get the win.

A kill by the Chieftains’ Chantal Baker made it 24-22.

Errors by both teams resulted in a final score of 25-23.

Dowagiac raced out to a 6-2 lead only to have the Lady Colts come back and eventually tie the set at 9-9.

Taylor Gross’ four straight winners gave the Chieftains the early advantage.

Kelsie Primley’s two service points made it a 9-4 match before Comstock scored the next five points to force the tie.

The teams again traded the lead back and forth and settled for several ties right up to 20-20.

Kaisha Martin’s kill and Primley’s two service points gave Dowagiac a 22-20 lead. The advantage grew to 24-20 with a kill by Katie Haneberg.

Another Comstock error gave the second set to the Chieftains and a commanding 2-0 lead.

Dowagiac coach Ryan Frontczak manipulated his line-up for the third set and while the Chieftains battled hard, they came up a little short at the end.

Dowagiac led 4-0 right off the bat thanks to the serving of Baker.

The Lady Colts caught the Chieftains at 8-8 and eventually took a 14-10 advantage. A run of seven consecutive points made it a 21-11 lead for Comstock, but the Chieftains weren’t about to roll over and play dead.

Dowagiac got the lead down to 24-19 on a kill by Andrea Bradshaw and two service winners, including an ace from Martin.

But the Chieftains could not overcome the early deficit and had to play another set.
It was all Dowagiac from the start.

The Chieftains opened up a 10-4 advantage behind the play of Gross, Martin, Primley and Baker.

Ownby’s three consecutive service points made it a 14-4 match.

Bradshaw took over the match and led the Chieftains to the win.

In the middle of the third set she had two blocks and two kills as Dowagiac’s lead grew to 24-7.

Alyssa Greenwood then finished off the Lady Colts with a kill.

Bradshaw finished the match with 12 kills and four blocks. Greenwood added eight kills and Martin seven. Baker finished with five kills and four aces.

Ownby, Gross and Primley all had six digs. Gross and Taylor also finished with three aces.

Danielle Taylor has 21 assists and Meghan Hojara seven.

“I think we took some steps in the right direction tonight,” Frontczak said. “We are working hard in practice and we have a big tournament on Monday. If we show up and play like we did tonight we have a great chance of winning it.”

Dowagiac will compete in the Bridgman Invitational on Monday.