By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN -- For the third year in a row the Brandywine volleyball team reached the finals of the Class C District Tournament Saturday at Buchanan High School.
For the first time in those three years, however, the Bobcats did not come away with the district title.
Watervliet beat Brandywine 15-8, 14-16, 15-5 to claim the crown and move on to regional play at Bangor Saturday.
Brandywine beat Buchanan 17-15, 15-8 in the first round and then held off Bridgman for a 15-11, 10-15, 15-4 semifinal victory.
Watervliet middle hitter Kim Gear punished the Bobcats in the first and third games of the championship match. She had eight kills in the first game, one in the second and six in the third.
Brandywine finishes the season with a record of 31-15-7.
Emily Whitney had nine kills in the title match and Nikki Cooper added eight kills.
Buchanan finished the season with a record of 19-17-6.
Ashlee Layher and Veronica Andersson each had seven kills for Buchanan in the loss to Brandywine. Ali Bender had 17 assists and two blocks.
The Bucks led 14-12 before Brandywine came back for the 17-15 victory.
Nicki McGowen served four aces for Brandywine in the win over Buchanan.