By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
COLOMA - An attempted comeback bid by visiting Niles Monday night fell short in high school volleyball play.
The Lady Vikings dropped the first two games against the host Lady Comets before rallying to win the third game.
Coloma would not let Niles comeback all the way and ended up with a 25-19, 25-14, 24-26 and 25-20 non-conference victory.
The Lady Vikings had problems in the first game with their offense and defense. They weren't communicating and were having problems digging the ball.
Niles was able to pull within points of the lead numerous times throughout the game, but wre never quite capable of catching the Lady Comets.
Coloma won the first game, 25-19.
The second game was a repeat of the first. Niles again was struggling on defense, with its communication and digs. Niles was able to get within a few points of the lead, but could never tie or take the lead.
Coloma won the second game, 25-14.
Coloma took a quick 8-0 lead in the third game.
Niles looked like it had given up until Brittney Passig spiked the ball for the Vikings' first point. The two teams were able to get a good volley going until Passig blocked a kill to give the Vikings posession of the ball.
Niles seemed more focused in the third game. It was able to tie the score up for the first time of the night at 18 and took the lead 19-18 on the next play.
Coloma's Hayley Gire wasn't ready to lose and spiked the ball to tie the score back up.
Niles' Stephanie Stoops also had winning in mind and added a point from a kill to Niles' score to put them back in the lead.
Coloma was able to go ahead by two points, but Melissa Olsen did what she is famous for and pounded a spike to bring Niles back within one.
The Vikings were again able to tie it at 23, but Coloma's Hannah Barrett spiked the ball for another point to put the Comets up 24-23.
Olsen gave the Vikings another kill to tie it up at 24. Niles was able to earn the last two points from errors on Coloma's side to give them the third match victory 26-24.
The fourth and final game went back and forth much like the previous three games.
But in the end, it was the Lady Comets who sealed the victory.
Niles was led on the night by Olsen who had 12 kills and two blocks. Amber Peters finished with one kill, two blocks, 23 assists, six points, one ace and three digs.
Karly Kennedy contributed three kills, 10 poins, four aces and seven digs to the Niles' totals.
The Lady Vikings also got seven kills and two blocks from Passig, while Meghan Flynn had nine kills.
Ashley Pingel had four points and three digs. Kaylee Bonner had three points, one ace and eight digs. Kaylynn Stephenson had two points, two aces and three digs. Sam Brawley had three points and three digs.
Niles returns to action on Wednesday when it hosts New Buffalo in a non-conference match. The Vikings will also play on Saturday at the New Buffalo Invitational.
This is a make up from Jan. 22.