The Niles varsity volleyball team faced a tough test in its SMAC opener against visiting Kalamazoo Central Wednesday.

The Vikings (13-1) pulled out the first set 25-21, but could not overcome several miscues in dropping the second and third sets 25-19 and 25-15.

Niles was able to get momentum back on its side and finished off the Maroon Giants 25-21 and 15-6.

“Tonight was a mental battle for my team,” Niles coach Jenny Nate said. “The girls have been looking forward to finally having a home match so that they could have their fans and student section there to cheer them on. With that came a lot of adrenaline and pressure. We came out able to control it in the first set and won. In the second set, we let a few mistakes get the best of us and we lost some of our confidence, resiliency, and focus, which cost us sets two and three.

“Before the fourth set, we had an intense team talk about what our goals are and they knew heading out on the court that the team could control the momentum, keep the mental focus and fight the hardest would take the match. We turned the tables, took back the control of the tempo and won the fourth set and finally finished with a big win in the fifth set, which won us our first conference match of the season.”

Nate gave some of the credit to the turnaround to the Niles students and fans.

“Our student section and fans were awesome and their support also helped the girls really dig deep and push harder,” she said. “Kalamazoo Central ran a fast offense and was very scrappy defensively. Playing in a match like that, and having to fight back for five intense sets,will ultimately make us a much stronger team both mentally and physically.

“We have a lot to work on during practice to prepare to travel to Lakeview next Wednesday for our next conference match.”

Bella Rasler and Lexi Smith had big nights at the net as they combined for 38 kills and five blocks.

Carly Barton also played well in leading the Vikings in scoring with 18 points, aces with two and assists with 43. She also contributed five digs.

 

NILES 3, CENTRAL 2

At Niles

Set scores

Niles d. Central 25-21. 19-25, 15-25, 25-21, 15-6.

 

Individual statistics

Leading scorers

Carly Barton 18 points,

2 aces

Bianca Pickens 11

points, 1 ace

Bella Rasler 9 points, 1

ace

Bre Love 7 points

Lexi Smith 7 points
Kills

Rasler 20

Smith 18

Abbie Harpenau 6

Nola Wallace 3
Blocks

Wallace 4

Smith 4

Harpenau 3

Megan Kohler 2

Rasler 1

Nikki Nate 1
Digs

Love 22

Smith 17

Rasler 16

Pickens 8

Barton 5
Assists

Carly Barton 43

 

Varsity record: Niles 13-1, 1-0 SMAC.