By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN – Hard work and giving 110 percent proved to be the key for Buchanan's varsity volleyball team in picking up a Lakeland Conference win Wednesday night over visiting Bridgman in three games, 25-19, 26-24, 25-21.
After last week's disappointing lose to the Eddies on their home court, Buchanan coach Lisa Holok knew what her team needed to do to get back on track.
"We've been working very hard at practice making sure we're going 110 percent for each play. Making sure the ball doesn't fall and that someone is on the floor and that showed tonight. We kept the ball off the floor a lot better than we did last week," Holok said. "I was really happy to see that what we have been working on has transfered to the court."
The Lady Bucks took control of game one early, taking a 5-3 advantage and made the plays when needed. Fighting off each of the Lady Bees attempted to get back into the contest. Bridgman tied the game at 15 all, but was unable make the play to take over the lead. Back-to-back kills by senior Emily Ross and Rachel Briggs backed up by a pair of aces by Ross broke the game open for the Lady Bucks and a 19-15 lead.
Game two was a back and forth contest with each team unable to hold onto the lead. Bridgman managed to stretch the lead to 14-10 before Buchanan raced back to tie the game at 17. The game saw five more ties, with the final coming at 24, before Courtney Miller nailed down the win with two hard hit balls for the kills and 26-24 win heading into the third and final game.
The Lady Bucks bolted out to a 15-6 lead in the finally, but the Lady Bees fought hard to get back into the game cutting the lead to three, 23-20. Buchanan closed out the night on a Jayme O'Bryant kill.
"We could have kept our speed up tonight, the temple was down a little bit, we need to work on our speed so that we are more consistent when we are playing a team that is a little slower with their temple," Holok said.
Buchanan Leaders
Courtney Miller 12 digs 10 kills
Jayme O'Bryant 12 digs 8 kills
Emily Ross 7 digs 3 aces 38 assists 2 blocks 4 kills
Rachel Downs 20 digs
Alexis Lenox 14 digs 4 kills
Brooke Shultz 2 digs
Jollene Borr 2 digs
Anna Callahan 3 aces 3 blocks 10 kills
Taylor Henry 2 blocks 2 kills
Rachel Briggs 1 block 2 kill