COMSTOCK — The Dowagiac varsity volleyball team got its first victory under new coach Bill Anderson Thursday night.

The Chieftains swept host Comstock 3-0 in a Wolverine Conference match.

Dowagiac defeated the Colts 25-17, 25-13 and 25-17.

“We worked hard in practice this week on communicating as a team,” Anderson said. “This was by far the best we have played as a team. It was encouraging. It was good to see them jelling as a team. Tonight the girls did a good job of recognizing what the other team was trying to do and adjusted to it.”

Anderson emptied his bench in the match and after his starting unit set the tone, the reserves came off the bench and also played well.

“My starters really, really played well,” he said. “One of the things I focused on with the starters was coming together in a time of crisis. We have been playing the game silently. But tonight we communicated and that was the difference.”

Anderson also complimented the play of reserves Jessica Holmes, Abbi Gnatz, Riley Cox, Erica Greenwood and Alyssa Fritz.

“I really thought they prepared themselves for tonight,” Anderson said. “I didn’t call a single time out and that is so unlike me.”