Edwardsburg’s Emily Getz spikes the ball at the Eddies Invitational on Saturday. (Vigilant/Argus Photo/SCOTT NOVAK)

By AMELIO RODRIGUEZ

Vigilant/Argus

NILES — The Brandywine Bobcats varsity volleyball team hosted the Eddies from Edwardsburg in a Lakeland Conference volleyball match on Wednesday night (Sept. 16) and came away victorious 3-1.

The first game was all Brandywine pretty much from start to finish as the home team cruised to a 25-19 victory.

The second game however was a totally different story, and possibly the turning point of the night.

The visiting Eddies jumped all over the ‘Cats from the get go and built themselves a 21-10 lead, and that is when things began to turn around.

After Brandywine coach Nikki Bush called timeout, her team, led by their three seniors, rallied back and cut the lead to 23-21 before Edwardsburg would score the final two points. But the ’Cats had already gained the momentum they would need the rest of the way.

“Our seniors are everything to this team. They are my strongest three players, and the three team captains. They have earned it, and they deserve it, and we are definitely going to miss them next year,” said Bush about her seniors, Kelsey Prestly, Morgan Smallwood and Lauren Leonard.

Brandywine would take the momentum it had gained in the second game into the third and fourth matches, winning them both, 25-22 and 25-19 respectively.

On the other side of the net, Edwardsburg coach Sarah Benjamin was very disappointed in her team’s play after the game saying, “Our momentum wasn’t with us tonight, it didn’t feel like the girls were on the same page at the same time tonight. We weren’t taking control, and we were returning too many lazy balls back. We weren’t exactly hitting the ball great tonight.”

Prestly had 15 kills, while Leonard contributed 11 to go along with her 6 digs. Smallwood led the team with 4 blocks. Sophomore Jessica Cooper led the way with 36 assists, and fellow classmate Ashley DeJonge led the way with 7 aces.

For Edwardsburg, senior Emily Getz led the way with 28 assists and 15 digs, while fellow senior Emily Kozinski (13 kills and 26 digs) contributed as well. Just like their opponent, the Eddies had a couple of underclassmen shine as well. Sophomore Ally McIntee led the way with 26 digs, while sophomore Andrea LaPlace had five aces and junior Bronnie Tafunai had 10 kills, 15 digs, and an ace.

Brandywine improves to 12-6-2 while Edwardsburg falls to 9-5 on the season.

Cass vs. Eau Claire

The Cassoplis volleyball team was defeated by Eau Claire 13-25, 27-29 and 25-17.

Reese Ellison had five kills and four aces, while Sheridan Curry also had four aces.

“The girls are working hard and are definitely improving,” Cass coach Brooke Brawley said.

Cass is at Marcellus on Saturday.