By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
The success of the Niles girls' basketball team is great for the community, but could prove bad for the school's volleyball team. At least early in the season.
Four of the Vikings' nine players also play basketball. Because Niles advanced all the way to the state quarterfinals, its season didn't end until Nov. 30.
So while most area teams began practicing Nov. 17, the Vikings weren't able to get their full squad together for the first time until Tuesday.
The Vikings open their season today at home with the Niles Round Robin Tournament, and hope to do well against the competition, despite less than a week of practice with the full team.
The tournament features Bloomingdale, Bridgman, Decatur and Marcellus. Each school will play the other four once in the preliminary rounds.
The four teams with the best records will face each other in bracket-style tournament.
This year's Niles players bring a mix of experience to the team. The Vikings are led by four returning seniors - Kaylee Bonner, Melissa Olsen, Amber Peters and Ashley Pingel. Olsen, Peters and Pingel play for Niles' basketball team, so have had less time to practice and train than the other players.
The rest of the team features six players who are new to varsity this year. There are three juniors, however, that all played junior varsity last season, which will help add some experience, Foster said. Claire Molnar, Britney Passig and Dagmar Hoffman, a German exchange student, are the three third-year players.
The remaining Vikings are sophomore Leigh Tyler, who also played basketball, and freshmen Karly Kennedy and Caylynn Stevenson.
This season, the Vikings are looking to contend for a title in the Big 16's West Division, where they finished fourth last year.
To accomplish that goal, Foster said Niles needs the four seniors to guide the rest of the younger team.
As for which of the seniors will be the most valuable player for the Vikings, Foster said it's hard to say. She thinks they all will contribute equally to the team.
Looking down the schedule, Foster said her team has the opportunity to knock off some pretty good teams, but their number one target is Lakeshore. Niles gets its shot early.
The Vikings play the Lancers in a match Wednesay at Lakeshore, then visit again on Dec. 18 for the Lakeshore Invitational.
Foster said the Vikings are also looking forward to matches with Coloma and division rival St. Joseph, both of which will be tough contests.
But for now, Niles is focused on winning today's tournament. The late start to the season will hurt a little bit, Foster said, but the Vikings' excellent chemistry will make up for it.
The Niles Round Robin Tournament begins today at 10 a.m.