STEVENSVILLE — The Coloma Comets ended Dowagiac’s volleyball season with a 3-0 victory in the opening round of the Class B Districts at Lakeshore High School Monday.

The Comets defeated the Chieftains 25-12, 27-25 and 25-18 to advance to Wednesday’s semifinals against the host Lancers.

In the opening match of the night, Berrien Springs defeated Buchanan in a four-set thriller 3-1 to advance to the semifinals against Benton Harbor Wednesday.

The Shamrocks, the defending district championship, defeated the Bucks 24-26, 25-23, 25-22 and 25-20.

The championship match is slated for Saturday at 11 a.m. at Lakeshore High School.

All three sets between the Chieftains and the Comets were competitive early. Only the final two sets remained competitive throughout.

In the opening set, after being tied at 5-5, Coloma outscored Dowagiac 14-6 to open up a 19-11 advantage.

The Chieftains tried to keep it close on a kill by Amanda Badner and then a block by Badner and Annie Ennesser. Trailing just 10-8, the Comets would score the next five points and essentially put the set away.

The second set was the most competitive of the night with the Chieftains holding an 18-16 advantage.

The set was tied seven times after that point, including 24-24.

A Dowagiac service error gave Coloma the lead for good at 26-25 and then a lift was called on the Chieftains for set-point.

Dowagiac raced out to a 4-0 lead behind a kill by Badner and four consecutive service winners by Gabby Leonard.

The Comets caught the Chieftains at 6-6 and then the two teams battled back and forth through the next several points. With the match tied at 12-12, Coloma outscored Dowagiac 6-2 to open up an 18-14 advantage.

The Chieftains closed the gap to 19-17, but couldn’t sustain the rally and the Comets pulled away to the victory.

“Normally we have a lot of offense and struggle on defense, but not tonight,” Dowagiac coach Sara Lawrence said. “We worked a lot on defense this week because we needed to. Tonight we went just the opposite. I can’t explain it.”

 

Class B Districts

At Stevensville

Coloma d. Dowagiac 3-1

 

Dowagiac statistics

Kills

Amanda Badner 5

Digs

Katie Dantone 14

Assists

Gabby Leonard 8