RICHLAND – The Niles volleyball team finished second at the Gull Lake Invitational Friday.

The Vikings lost to just one team in the tournament, host and eventual champion Gull Lake.

Niles was 5-2 in the debut of coach Jenny Nate.

“I’m so proud of the girls,” she said. “I was hired a week ago and my players have welcomed me with open arms, have worked hard, stayed focused and have really supported me jumping right in so that we could move forward fast to prepare for our season.”

The Vikings defeated Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, Caledonia, Portage Northern and Battle Creek Lakeview in reaching the finals.

The host Blue Devils toppled Niles 25-13 and 25-20 in the championship match.

“Today was a total team effort and our starters and subs came together and played hard with the same extraordinary intensity throughout the entire tourney,” Nate said. “They had fun, played aggressive and never let up through the championship match. It was a great start to our season and I’m excited to watch this team learn and grow.”

 

Gull Lake Invitational

Pool Play

Niles d. Loy Norrix 25-13, 25-18; Gull Lake d. Niles 14-25, 25-27

Power Pool Play

Niles d. Portage Northern 25-11, 25-13; Niles d. Caledonia 25-14, 23-25, 15-8; Niles d. Parchment 25-13, 25-10

Semifinals

Niles d. Lakeview 25-22, 25-10

Championship

Gull Lake d. Niles 13-25, 20-25

 

Niles statistics

Assists

Cortney Shirrell 105

Kills

Ashley Love 51

Miranda Baker 42

Lashonda Greene 26

Points and aces

Maggie Hoff 42 points, 2 aces

Shirrell 41 points, 1 ace

Kierra Fillwock 35 points, 3 aces

Kelsey Barton 33 points

Baker 24 points and 3 aces

Digs

Hoff 24

Love 13

Blocks

Greene 11
Baker 6
Love 5