Bucks set the tone for the rest of the season with win
Published 8:39 am Tuesday, August 30, 2016
- Buchanan’s Britta Mollberg (8) and Liz Kuntz (15) are seen here going up for a block against Edwardsburg in a recent match. The Bucks won the Mishawaka Invitational Saturday, beating three ranked teams in the process. (Leader photo/AMELIO RODRIGUEZ)
Buchanan volleyball coach Lisa Holak has been looking for teams to challenge her squad as it prepares for the BCS Athletic Conference season and the eventual state tournament.
So when the Bucks got a chance to replace national No. 1-ranked Indianapolis Cathedral at the Mishawaka Invitational Saturday, Holak jumped at the chance.
“We were thrilled to be invited to the Mishawaka tournament replacing the defending national champion,” Holak said. “This tournament is a definite premier level tournament featuring No. 2-ranked Carmel, 12th-ranked Mishawaka and fifth-ranked Mishawaka Marion along with other really competitive teams in Indiana. For our program it was an honor that they thought of us to invite and for this team it was an exciting challenge we eagerly accepted so early in the season.”
The Bucks lost for the first time this season, but that did not keep them from advancing to the championship match and beating Carmel 28-26, 22-25 and 15-13.
“As a team we rallied from behind multiple times especially in the finals against Carmel,” Holak said. “That is a huge swing of momentum for this team moving forward in the season.
“Continuing with what we have been focusing on with hard work, intensity, communication and really committing together as a team I really think the sky is the limit with this team.”
Senior Franki Strefling was named tournament MVP after finishing with 74 kills, 30 digs, nine blocks, five assists and three aces.
“We couldn’t be prouder of Franki being named MVP at such an elite tournament featuring many other D1 athletes,” Holak said. “The way she and the other players handled themselves throughout the day really spoke volumes of how special this team is.”
MISHAWAKA INVITATIONAL
At Mishawaka
Buchanan match scores
Buchanan d. Mishawaka 25-14, 25-22.
Buchanan d. Mishawaka Marion 25-20, 25-18.
South Bend St. Joseph d. Buchanan 22-25, 23-25.
Finals
Buchanan d. Carmel 28-26, 22-25, 15-13.
Individual statistics
Franki Strefling 9 blocks, 74 kills, 3 aces, 60 digs, 5 assists.
Alex Tobler 27 digs, 3 aces, 48 kills.
Liz Kuntz 17 kills, 10 blocks, 3 digs.
Britta Mollberg 27 digs, 1 ace, 9 kills, 130 assists, 3 blocks.
Megan Adkerson 12 kills, 3 assists, 4 digs.
Andrea Bair 4 kills, 5 blocks.
Taylor Reed 4 aces, 22 digs.
Taylor Strauss 44 digs, 4 assists, 1 kill, 3 aces.
Varsity record: Buchanan 11-1.
