A short-handed Edwardsburg volleyball team prevailed over South Haven, 25-21, 25-20, 13-25, 25-20, in Wolverine Conference West Division action on Thursday.

The Eddies, who improved to 7-12 overall and 1-1 in the division, were playing without starting libero Kaylee Ryker, who broke her finger while playing powder puff football on Wednesday.

“This was a totally new lineup for us,” said Edwardsburg coach Chrissy Breisch about the impact that Ryker’s injury had on the team. “All of my backrow was in different spots. We pulled through and were able to win the match.”

It was a stressful victory for the Eddies, whose biggest lead of the match was five points. Edwardsburg overcame a 5-0 deficit in game one, a 20-17 deficit in game two and a 16-14 deficit in game four.

Tied at 20 in game four, Edwardsburg finished the game with a kill from Nicole Jasper, a kill from Sierra Gaunders and two service aces from Emma Nelson. A double hit by South Haven clinched the game and the match for the Eddies.

Edwardsburg bounced back in game four after trailing throughout in game three.

“I told our team that things are going to happen in volleyball and you’re not going to win every point,” Breisch said about his message to her team after game three. “They had to keep fighting and not give up. We gave up in that third game and started doing awful, awful things that we haven’t done before.”

Gaunder finished with 10 kills, five blocks, two service aces and four digs for Edwardsburg.

 

Edwardsburg d. South Haven 3-1

Set scores

25-21, 25-20, 13-25, 25-20

 

Individual statistics

Kills

Sierra Gaunder (E) 10, Nicole Jasper (E) 4, Audrey Bellina (E) 3, Taylor Hepler (E) 3, Avery Hoyt (S) 9, Bobbie Goodwin (S) 8, Sierra Wall (S) 4, Megan Sollman (S) 4, Hayley Kreiger (S) 3

Blocks

Gaunder (E) 5, Hepler (E) 4, Bellina (E) 2, Kreiger (S) 2, Goodwin (S) 2

Assists

Katelyn Crothers (E) 15, Payton Szlanfucht (E) 8

Aces

Szlanfucht (E) 3, Gaunder (E) 2, Emma Nelson (E) 2, Goodwin (S) 3, Sarah Washegesic (S) 2, Hoyt (E) 2

Digs

Kylie Meek (E) 7, Gaunder (E) 4, Crothers (E) 3, Washegesic (S) 10, Kreiger (S) 4, Angela Sondgerath (S) 3, Goodwin (S) 3

 Varsity record

Edwardsburg 7-12, 1-1 West