By DON EDEN
Niles Daily Star

CASSOPOLIS – The flu bug last week caused Lakeland Conference volleyball teams to play Monday evening as Buchanan threw down a 25-11, 25-17 and 25-19 conquest over host Cassopolis.

The Lady Rangers scored the first point, but Buchanan dominated the rest of the first game with junior Brooke Schultz serving five consecutive points for a big lead (22-8) that they wouldn’t relinquish.

“We controlled the first game and played really well as the girls play really well together with a good mixture of leadership and being young,” noted Buchanan coach Lisa Holok.
Cassopolis senior Olivia Stewart was a stalwart in the second game as she scored six consecutive points to tie the score at ten apiece before Lady Buck seniors Rachel Downs, Jollene Borr, Rachel Briggs and Alexis Lenox served the visitors to another win. Borr and Briggs each had four serves in a row during the second game.

“I put some good serves and all of us played pretty hard,” stated Stewart. “Next week we will be better and will be ready for the districts.”

“Stewart is a great leader and setter that has potential,” commented Cassopolis coach Brooke Borsa. “We have eight seniors and quite a few of them step up every game to become leaders.”

The home team had a 15-11 lead in the final game when Lenox tied the score as the server with sophomores Ashley Luzadre, Erin Glavin and Audrey Oake playing a prominent role for Buchanan.  Glavin and Downs served out the match for the victors with three and five points respectively.

Lenox showed softball (pitcher) was not her only sport she plays well as she totaled 35 assists and seven kills to go with five digs and aces to reap praise from her coach.

“We could go far if we play good, but we need to play our “A” game,” said Lenox.  “Also, working hard all the time to become more consistent and not get down on ourselves is important.”

The trio of Downs, Schultz and Glavin accounted for 21, 11 and 10 digs respectively with Oake having a pair of blocks with her 11 kills.

Stewart equaled Oake in kills and also had a quartet of assists as classmate Jessica Biek led Cass with nine helpers.

“Hopefully playing bigger schools will give us a head up in the tournament, concluded Borsa.