PORTAGE — The Niles volleyball reached the Gold Division of the Portage Northern Invitational Saturday.

The Vikings split with Unity Christian (25-17, 23-25), split with Otsego (25-19, 15-25), but took the top seed coming out of pool play thanks to point differential.

In power pool play, Niles split with Flushing (25-22, 11-25) and split with Three Rivers (22-25, 25-21) to earn the No. 2 seed heading into Gold Division bracket play.

The Vikings took on No. 1-ranked (Division 4) Battle Creek St. Philips in the opening round and was defeated 25-15 and 25-8.

“I am extremely happy with our play today,” Niles coach Jenny Nate said. “Last year we won the Bronze Division and so our goal this year was to make it to the Gold Division and face some of the top teams in the state. I was missing two of my starters today due to taking the ACT, so I had one of my defensive specialists, Courtney Nixon, playing libero and pulled up JV player Holly Walker, who stepped up and both did fantastic jobs filling those shoes.”

 

Niles statistics

Leading scorers

Kelsey Barton 20, 3 aces

Kierra Fillwock 19

Miranda Baker 16, 3 aces

Holly Walker 11

Lashonda Greene 7

Courtney Nixon 6

 

Kills

Baker 25

Greene 18

Jazmin Brann 11

Barton 6

Fillwock 5

Megan Kohler 3

Lexi Smith 1

 

Blocks

Baker 17

Brann 11

Barton 8

Kohler 7

Greene 6

Fillwock 2

Smith 2

 

Assists

Barton 61

 

Digs

Nixon 49

Greene 30

Baker 29

Fillwock 21

Holly Walker 19

Barton 18