By SCOTT NOVAK
Dowagiac Daily News

Perhaps the best way to describe the Dowagiac varsity volleyball team’s season is hot and cold.

The Chieftains were definitely hot and cold Monday night in its final regular season match against visiting Wolverine Conference foe South Haven on Senior Night.

After dropping the opening set of the match, Dowagiac played perhaps its best volleyball in the second set to knot the score at 1-1.

But after falling 25-19 in the third set, the Chieftains were unable to put it all back together and fell to the Lady Rams 3-1.

While the first set was back and forth, Dowagiac couldn’t sustain any long scoring spurts and found itself behind.

But in the second set, it was all Chieftains.

Dowagiac got off to a strong start as Danielle Taylor served up the first five points and after Kiele Belew had two consecutive winners, the Chieftains found themselves ahead 7-2.

Strong net play by Alyssa Greenwood, Kaisha Martin and Andrea Bradshaw kept Dowagiac out in front.

Behind them, Meghan Hojara, Martin and Taylor all collected two service winners as the Chieftains extended their advantage to 22-12.

South Haven made a bit of a comeback against the Chieftains, cutting the lead to 24-18 before a return of a spike by libero Devon Ownby found the floor on the other side of the net for a 25-18 win.

South Haven defeated Dowagiac 25-19 and 25-14 in the final two sets to take the win.
“We came out that second game and did everything right,” Dowagiac coach Ryan Frontczak said. “But in those final two games we quit communicating and you saw what happened. We have to communicate and we have to stay up beat if we want to compete.”

Greenwood finished with 10 kills and two blocks, while Martin had five kills and Bradshaw four kills and three blocks.

Belew finished with two kills, two digs and two blocks. Taylor added three aces and 17 assists, while Hojara had five digs, an ace and five assists.

Ownby finished with two kills, eight digs and two aces.

JV volleyball
The Dowagiac junior varsity volleyball team closed out its season with a pair of wins.

On Monday night the Chieftains defeated visiting South Haven 25-11 and 25-14.

Last Thursday, Dowagiac defeated Paw Paw 25-19 and 25-9.

Leading the Chieftains offensively on Monday were Rylie Cox with 14 points, Nikki Witwer 12 points, Alyssa Fritz and Carly Polomcak added five points, while Jessica Holmes and Abby Gnatz both contributed four points apiece.

Holmes also had seven assists. Polomcak and Gnatz both had four kills and Witwer five digs.

Against Paw Paw, Holmes and Gnatz finished with 11 points apiece. Polomcak contributed eight points, Cox scored five points, while Shelby Bruens and Witwer both added four points each.

Gnatz finished with six kills, while Alyssa Fritz and Correshia Rodgers were singled out for their defensive efforts.