The Niles volleyball team went 1-1-1 at the SMAC Mini Wednesday night.

The Vikings defeated Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 25-12 and 25-17, lost to Mattawan 25-23 and 25-19 and split with Kalamazoo Central 24-26 and 25-19.

“I am thrilled with how we played Mattawan,” Niles coach Jenny Nate said. “I told the girls that playing that team would be a test that for us to see what our potential is against some of the best teams in the state. We stayed neck and neck the entire first set and fell short of winning it. That match was the most intense, focused and highest level of play I have seen from my players this season. We had some incredible digs, kills and blocks. It was a great indicator of what this team can do in the future.

“We went straight into another match against Kalamazoo Central, and I think we had given so much to the previous match that we didn’t come out swinging hard enough and were on our heels a bit on defense which resulted in a split. They took the first set 24-26. I was pleased that my team immediately took the court this time and got down to business and won that set 25-19. I keep reminding my players that we learn to the most from our losses-like Mattawan tonight, and we will come back even stronger.”

 

SMAC Mini

Match scores

Niles d. Loy Norrix 2-0

Mattawan d. Niles 2-0

Niles split with Kalamazoo Central 1-1

 

Individual statistics

Leading scorers

Kelsey Barton 20 points, 6 aces

Bella Rasler 17 points, 3 aces

Holly Walker 13 points, 2 aces

Bre Love 13 points, 7 aces

 

Kills

Rasler 18

Lexi Smith 14

Jazmin Brann 13

Barton 8

Megan Kohler 6

Courtney Nixon 5

 

Blocks

Brann 8

Smith 6

Barton 5

Kohler 5

 

Assists

Barton 143

 

Digs

Rasler 25

Walker 17

Nixon 16

Love 11

Barton 11

Smith 6