Niles sweeps Edwardsburg
Published 11:08 pm Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Niles’ Brea Haines helped the Niles volleyball team to a sweep of Edwardsburg Wednesday night. The Vikings are now 4-2 on the season. Daily Star photo/AMELIO RODRIGUEZ
EDWARDSBURG — The Niles Vikings volleyball team travelled to Edwardsburg Wednesday night to take on the Eddies in a non-conference matchup and the Lady Vikings proved to be too much for the over matched and youthful Eddies.
The Vikings swept the night 25-16, 25-13, and 25-17.
In the first set both teams traded points as Niles held the 11-9 advantage before pulling away to easily win 25-16.
The second contest was all Niles as it jumped on the Eddies early and didn’t let up cruising to the 25-13 victory.
The final set looked as if the Vikings were going to run away with the easy victory as they jumped out to a 20-10 lead before the Eddies came to life and made a little run of their own before finally falling 25-17.
Cortney Shirrell had 29 assists for Niles as it defeated host Edwardsburg 3-0. (Daily Star Photo/AMELIO RODRIGUEZ)
Both teams are playing with several underclassmen on the roster ,but neither coach would use that as an excuse this early in the season.
“I think we played a little scared and nervous tonight and we have to learn to fight through that,” said Edwardsburg coach Sarah Benjamin. “We started playing better towards the end when we decided to start playing ball for ball rather than for the score.”
“We have some young girls on the team, but they are contributing well for being at the level they are at,” claimed Niles assistant coach Ken Davis. “We just want to see them continue to grow over the season and play with a little more intensity.”
Leading the way for the Vikings was Ashley Love with 12 kills and seven digs, and Lashonda Greene with eight kills and four blocks. Brea Haines led the team with 15 digs and Cortney Shirrell had 29 assists.
Leading the way for the Eddies was Ally McIntee with 28 digs and two aces, Andrea LaPlace with seven kills, 17 digs and two blocks, and Madison Hatkievich with 20 assists.
Niles improves to 4-2 overall on the season while Edwardsburg falls to 3-4.
Niles…3
Edwardsburg…0
Niles statistical leaders
Kills
Ashley Love 12
Lashonda Greene 8
Miranda Baker 5
Digs
Brea Haines 15
Ashley Love 7
Miranda Baker 7
Blocks
Lashonda Greene 4
Miranda Baker 2
Aces
Abby McKeel 1
Assists
Cortney Shirrell 29
Edwardsburg statistical leaders
Ally McIntee 28 digs, 2 aces
Andrea LaPlace 7 kills, 17 digs, 2 blocks
Madison Hatkievich 20 assists
Varsity records: Niles 4-2, Edwardsburg 3-4
