By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
DOWAGIAC - The Chieftians have never beaten Lakeshore in a varsity volleyball match.
That streak continued Wednesday night.
Visiting Lakeshore, an honorable mention selection in the latest coaches' poll, defeated Dowagiac in a Big 16 Conference West Division match, 9-25, 7-25 and 17-25.
Dowagiac got off to a slow start against the Lady Lancers and never really recovered.
The Chieftains did pick up the intensity in the third game, but it was too late.
Lakeshore used big runs at the start of teach game to take the Chieftains out of the match.
In the opening game the Lady Lancers led 6-1 en route to the 16-point victory.
In the second game Lake-shore raced out to a 9-2 advantage and never looked back.
Dowagiac got the quick start in the third game, leading 3-0, before Lakeshore got on a roll.
Amy Wood led Dowagiac with nine service points, while Brittney Reist finished with six points and an ace.
Kim Luthringer also had six points.
Jill Billingham had four kills and a block, while Reist had four kills and Luthringer three.
Lindsay Tyler led the team defensively with seven digs.
Reist added six digs and Anne O'Keefe five digs.
Brittany Bruens had a team-high five assists. Ashley Urbanski finished with two assists and a block.
Dowagiac will travel to New Buffalo on Saturday for an invitational tournament which has been rescheduled from Jan. 22.
Pool play is set to begin at 9 a.m.
This is a varsity-only tournament.