Playing inspired volleyball at the right time of year is what every coach wants to see from his team.

First-year Dowagiac coach Vince Strefling is witnessing that from his squad as the Chieftains advanced to the Class B District championship game tonight against Buchanan.

Dowagiac moved into the finals with a 3-0 win over visiting Coloma Wednesday night.

The Chieftains’ opponent, Buchanan, had little trouble advancing to the finals as well as it blew out Berrien Springs 3-0.

The championship match at Dowagiac Union High School is set for 7 p.m.

 

Dowagiac vs. Coloma

The Chieftains improved to 19-13 with a 25-16, 25-12 and 25-19 victory over the Comets in a match that took just over an hour to complete.

Strefling would not say that this was Dowagiac’s best performance of the season, but said that it was a great way to get started.

“We prepared as well this week as I’ve seen them prepare for something,” he said. “The first game was a nice way to start because we never start really well. That set the tone. I just think they are coming into their own a little bit at the right time.”

The Chieftains, led by junior middle hitter Anne Ennesser and senior outside hitter Amanda Badner, dominated the net against the undersized Comets.

Ennesser had 13 kills and three blocks, while Badner finished with 10 kills. Dowagiac also got eight kills and two blocks from Taylor Hulett and six kills from Mary Magin.

Up next for Dowagiac is Buchanan, which defeated the Chieftains 25-11, 25-23 and 25-21 back in September.

The Bucks (46-4-1) needed only 44 minutes to dispatch Berrien Springs 25-1, 25-7 and 25-9 Wednesday night.

Making things a little more interesting is the fact that Strefling’s daughter Franki Strefling is not only Buchanan’s best player, but one of the best in southwest Michigan.

“The only way to stop Franki is best on best,” Strefling said. “That’s all we can do. We’re going to try to one-on-one her as best we can. All we have to do is slow her down. I think team per team, you look at our stats and team-wise we hit better than they do. We have more offensive players. So if we can get her in the back row and get a couple of breaks, it should be a good match.”

Against the Shamrocks, Franki Strefling finished with 19 kills, two blocks, eight digs and three aces.

“Franki will be in bed by the time I get there, I’m sure,” Vince Strefling said about his daughter. “She does not want to hear me.”

 

Class B District Volleyball

At Dowagiac

Buchanan d. Berrien Springs 3-0

Set scores

25-1, 25-7, 25-9

 

Buchanan statistics

Kills

Franki Strefling 19, Jada Meahl 7, Alexis Meahl 6

Blocks

Jada Meahl 3, Liz Kuntz 3, Strefling 2

Digs

Britta Mollberg 10, Strefling 8, Taylor Strauss 5, Clara Cornwell 4

Aces

Mollberg  14, Franki Strefling 3

Assists

Mollberg 32

Records: Buchanan 46-4-1, Berrien Springs 6-25

 

Dowagiac d. Coloma 3-0

Set scores

25-16, 25-12, 25-9

 

Dowagiac statistics

Kills

Anne Ennesser 13, Amanda Badner 10, Taylor Hulett 8, Mary Magin 6

Blocks

Ennesser 3, Taylor Hulett 2.

Digs

Natalie Davis 9, Hannah Whitaker 5

Aces

Ennesser 3, Mary Magin 2

Assists

Kassidy Binns 33

Records: Dowagiac 19-13, Coloma 12-25-2