NILES — Two weeks after the announcement that Niles would be joining the BCS Athletic Conference, current league member Brandywine hosted the Vikings in a non-conference match for the final time Monday night.

Already considered a cross-town rivalry, the addition of the Vikings to the BCS will only turn up the intensity when two of southwest Michigan’s premier volleyball programs meet.

According to first-year Brandywine coach Ray Prestly, he and veteran Niles coach Jenny Nate have even discussed getting a trophy for the two teams to play for each year.

The Brandywine volleyball team made it back-to-back wins over its crosstown rival Niles Monday night. The Bobcats swept the Vikings 25-11, 25-16 and 25-16 in 2018.

And revenge is just what Brandywine got as it defeated the Vikings 3-1, winning 24-26, 25-22, 25-20 and 25-16.

“The girls definitely had an agenda,” Prestly said. “It is starting to come together. Their confidence is building.”

Prestly is still stinging from the Bobcats losing their first conference match in nearly two years. He blames himself for the loss and is hoping everyone learned from that setback. He hopes it will help his team become even more focused moving forward.

“That means I failed them as a coach,” he said. “Whenever there is a loss, I take 100 percent for that. When they are victorious, that is all them because they are putting in the work.”

That work paid off against the Vikings.

After Niles rallied to win the opening set, the Bobcats regrouped and after a back-and-forth second set, Brandywine dominated, especially at the net, to win the final two sets and the match.

“The energy was loud,” Prestly said of the crowd. “I loved it. I wish it was that way every home game. Not just senior night or Niles and Brandywine.”

Nate has seen her team struggle the past couple of weeks with confidence. The Vikings have faced some stiff competition, both in SMAC matches, and at tournaments such as the Bronson Invitational on Saturday.

She said that the team must find the confidence, especially up front, to play with teams like the Bobcats. She also said it has to be a group effort.

“Brandywine has excellent, aggressive hitters,” she said. “We knew that going in and have to be able to match their offense by bringing the same aggressive power from our side of the net. Getting balance throughout all of our rotations has been our No. 1 area of focus in practice throughout the season.”

As for creating a rivalry with the Bobcats?

“We consider everyone a rival,” she said. “I wouldn’t want to pick just one.”

Complete statistics for both teams can be found in Daily Data: Wednesday, Oct. 9 on leaderpub.com