The Niles volleyball team tuned up for the Big 16 Conference and MHSAA tournaments by competing in the Grand Rapids Christian mini-tournament Wednesday.

The Vikings were defeated by Forest Hills Central 25-21, 26-24 and 25-15 and to No. 1-ranked (Class D) 25-21, 18-25, 25-21 and 25-20.

“I’m thrilled with my team’s play,” Niles coach Jenny Nate said. “We need to keep playing this caliber competition in order to keep moving our program in the right direction. Our scores reflect how tough we played both teams and taking a set from the No. 1-ranked team in the state was a huge momentum builder to prepare us for the SMAC tourney this Saturday and districts against Mattawan next Tuesday.”

Niles statistics

Leading scorers

Kierra Fillwock 14 points

Maggie Hoff 13 points

Olivia Jordan 12 points

Kelsey Barton 10 points
Miranda Baker 8 points

Courtney Nixon 6 points

Lashonda Greene 4 points

 

Kills

Baker 38

Jazmin Brann 15

Greene 13
Lexi Smith 8

Fillwock 8

Barton 6

 

Blocks

Brann 9

Barton 9

Baker 8
Smith 3

 

Assists

Barton 76

 

Digs

Hoff 31

Jordan 23
Baker 18

Barton 18

Fillwock 14

Nixon 12

Greene 6

Kohler 4