For the first time in 15 years, the Buchanan volleyball team hoisted a district championship trophy Thursday night.

The Bucks roared past host Dowagiac 25-14, 25-12 and 25-18 to capture the Class B District championship. Buchanan will now face Wolverine Conference champion Vicksburg in the regional semifinals at 7 p.m. in Edwardsburg.

Sophomore Franki Strefling, whose father is the first-year head coach at Dowagiac, led the Bucks with 33 kills and three blocks, three digs and an ace.

“In the beginning I was really, really nervous,” Strefling said. “But I had to overcome that and show my team that confidence is key. With confidence, we did what we do best.”

And about facing her father Vince on the other side of the net?

“There’s always an extra spark playing family,” she said. “If nothing else, it’s to prove a point that I’m the best one in the house. But I’ll make contact with dad tonight.”

Buchanan coach Lisa Holak also noted that Strefling turned it up a notch.

“Franki definitely had a little anxiety to start the match,” she said. “But she worked that out and she had a really strong last couple of games. So I was really pleased.”

Vince Strefling had some mixed emotions following the match.

He was happy for his daughter and Buchanan because he has coached several of their players in club volleyball.

On the other hand, he was disappointed about his team not playing better in the finals.

“Franki was all-state good tonight,” he said. “We couldn’t put a hand on her. I had to put both of my middles on her at times just to get a hand on her. Then she dumps the ball on us, and scores. We just don’t have caliber of athlete.

“We just didn’t have a good match. We played like three freshmen and a couple of sophomores. Oh yeah, that’s what we are. We just didn’t show up like we did Wednesday night. Last night’s team might have been a different story. Buchanan’s serving was a lot more aggressive, but it was nothing that we haven’t seen before. I don’t know if it was nerves. But the better team won.”

 

Class B District Volleyball

At Dowagiac

Buchanan d. Dowagiac 3-0

Set scores

25-14, 25-12, 25-18

 

Individual statistics

Kills

Franki Strefling (B) 33

Annie Ennesser (D) 7

Jada Meahl (B) 6

Alexis Meahl (B) 5

Amanda Badner (D) 5

Chelsey Bennett (B) 3

 

Blocks

Strefling (B) 3

Liz Kuntz (B) 2

 

Digs

Taylor Strauss (B) 14

Taylor Reed (B) 9

Clara Cornwell (B) 9

Strefling (B) 6

Hannah Whitaker 4

Natalie Davis 2

Kassidy Binns 2

 

Aces

Strauss (B) 3

Reed (B) 2

 

Assists

Britta Mollberg (B) 44

Binns (D) 13

 

Records

Buchanan 47-4-1

Dowagiac 19-14