By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN - It was hard to predict who was going to walk away the winner in Monday night's volleyball match-up as Buchanan hosted Niles in a non-coference game.
The Vikings picked up a 3-1 victory, but it didn't look too promising at times.
Buchanan started the first game focused and ready to win. It went ahead by more than five points early in the match. Niles made a fast comeback and was able to take the lead, but Buchanan fired back to tie it up.
Niles came back again and ended with a 26-24 victory.
In the second game both teams had trouble on offense and defense. Buchanan took the early lead, but Niles' Kaylee Bonner aced a serve to tie it up at seven. The Vikings took the lead and hung on to it the rest of the second game to give themselves a 25-15 victory.
Tables turned in the third game. Buchanan's Hayley Burks had three kills, one ace and served up four more points to give the Bucks their first eight points of the game. Niles was down by five, but quickly rallied and tied it up at 14.
Both teams had some mistakes on both sides of the net.
Niles' defense has been giving them problems throughout the season, but Monday it was their offense.
Niles was able to take the lead, but Buchanan took it right back and won the third game, 25-15.
The Bucks came into the fourth game pumped up and ready for another win. They again took an early lead, but Niles was able to grab it back. The Vikings focused on improving their offense and defense in the final game. Both teams stayed within one point of each other and took turns sharing the lead.
Both teams wanted the last victory, but Niles had the answer. After sitting out all of the third and most of the fourth games, the Vikings brought 6-foot-2 senior Melissa Olsen back in the game. She bombed five aces in a row to give Niles the victory, 25-15.
Amber Peters gave the Vikings 23 assists, 15 points, seven digs and three blocks. Ashley Pingel added 16 digs and eight points. Dagmar Hoffman had 11 points, four blocks for Niles and Melissa Olsen had 14 kills.
Buchanan's Jaclyn Mummaw had 15 assists. Katrina Weldy added 10 kills and Stacy Borr had nine. Leslie Niemier had eight aces for the Bucks and Heather Lentz had eight digs.
The Vikings play Saturday in the New Buffalo tournament. Buchanan plays at Edwardsburg Wednesday at 7 p.m.