Otsego stayed unbeaten after seven games in Wolverine Conference volleyball play with a convincing 25-8, 25-9 and 25-18 outcome over host Dowagiac on Thursday.

The Chiefs still are looking for their initial conference victory with first-year coach Sara Lawrence and showed promise in the final set as they scored the first four points and was knotted at 16 apiece before Otsego senior Kara Kanswischer scored eight straight tallies as the server.

“We finally relaxed and played like the team I want in the final game after watching and playing scared in the first two,” Lawrence said.

Neither of the first two games were ever close as the visitors sparked by senior setter Lydia Moyer (24 assists) marched out to early leads and scored the first 11 points in the second game.

Moyer also had a pair of aces when she was serving.

“This is a good group of girls and the chemistry couldn’t be better, plus they are getting better every time we play,” said coach Mary Grile of Otsego.

Leading a quartet of Otsego juniors at the net was Kelsey Owens with 14 kills for the victors with sophomore Amanda Metz achieving a dozen digs.

Seniors Whitney Donaldson and Jessica Holmes were the leaders for Dowagiac as the former had a pair of kills with three blocks and the latter had a trio of assists.

Jessica Herthoge (one ace and dig), Brittany Williams (one kill and block) and Kristyn Turner with an ace and a pair of kills were juniors giving a Chieftain effort on the hard court.

“It has been a roller coaster season with some issues still out there, but a few girls are showing some improvement,” Lawrence said.

“Otsego is strong at the net like we should be.”

Dowagiac’s freshmen team played a couple spirited close sets against the Bulldogs, only losing 25-22 and 27-25.

The Chieftain JV were beaten by scores of 25-11 and 25-19.