By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
The Dowagiac varsity volleyball team turned in its best performance of the season, but could not come away with a victory.
Visiting Battle Creek Lakeview swept the Chieftains Wednesday night in a Big 16 Conference non-divisional match, 20-25, 11-25 and 23-25.
Dowagiac showed emotion, desire and hustle all night long against the visiting Lady Spartans.
The play at the net was particularly strong throughout the match with both teams blocking each other over and over again.
In the end, however, the Lady Spartans were a little more consistent in serve receive.
In the opening game of the match, Dowagiac opened up a quick 3-0 lead behind the jump serve of senior Brittney Reist.
Dowagiac built a 5-1 lead on a pair of winners by Amy Wood and increased its advantage to 9-3 on two consecutive service winners by Jill Billingham.
Lakeview found its feet, and its spike, from that point on.
The Lady Spartans cut the lead to 14-10, prompting a Dowagiac time out.
The Chieftains increased their lead to 17-12 on another two serves from Reist, however, Lakeview roared back to cut the lead to 20-17, prompting another Dowagiac time out.
Dowagiac needed just six points to win the opening game, while Lakeview needed 11 points.
Unfortunately for the Chieftains, Battle Creek outscored them 11-1 to take the first game.
Poor positioning on serve receive led to a lopsided loss in the second game according to Dowagiac coach Carl Greulich.
The Chieftains battled Lakeview tooth-and-nail in the third and final game.
Kim Luthringer gave Dowagiac a quick 3-0 advantage in the third game. Reist extended Dowagiac's lead to 8-3 before Lakeview stormed back.
The Lady Spartans cut the Dowagiac advantage to 13-10, forcing a time out.
Battle Creek caught Dowagiac at 16 and the match was tied four times before the Chieftains edged in front, 22-20.
Lakeview tied Dowagiac at 23 and went on to score the final two points.
Reist led Dowagiac with 12 kills. Billingham finished with five kills, while Ashley Urbanski and Luthringer finished with four and three respectively.
Luthringer led the team in digs with 11. Reist and Urbanski added seven and six.
Billingham and Urbanski led the team in blocks with two each. Brittany Bruens had nine assists and Urbanski seven.