RICHLAND — The Niles volleyball team only reached the semifinals of the Gull Lake Blue Devil Invitational in 2015.

So the Vikings were hungry to get another shot at winning a championship.

And that is exactly what Niles did Friday.

The Vikings went 2-1 in the opening round of play as they defeated Three Rivers and Lakeshore, but lost to Battle Creek Lakeview.

In the quarterfinals, Niles rolled past South Haven 25-11 and 25-8 before facing host Gull Lake in a spirited semifinals, which the Vikings prevailed in 25-22 and 25-20.

Perennial Class C powerhouse Schoolcraft awaited Niles in the championship match but could not stop the Vikings from claiming the title with a 25-10 and 25-11 victory.

Niles is back to work today as it competes in the Bronson Invitational.

The host team defeated the Vikings in last year’s championship match.

 

BLUE DEVIL INVITATIONAL

At Richland

Niles match scores

Niles d. Three Rivers 25-12, 25-17

Battle Creek Lakeview d. Niles 25-17, 25-18

Niles d. Lakeshore 25-12, 25-13

 

Quarterfinals

Niles d. South Haven 25-11, 25-8

 

Semifinals

Niles d. Gull Lake 25-22, 25-20

 

Championship

Niles d. Schoolcraft 25-10, 25-11

 

Individual statistics

Leading scorers

Carly Barton 45 points, 13 aces

Bella Rasler 29 points, 3 aces

Bianca Pickens 23 points

Lexi Smith 22 points, 4 aces

Bre Love 22 points, 7 aces

 

Kills

Rasler 42

Smith 35

Nola Wallace 9

Abbie Harpenau 6

 

Blocks

Harpenau 7

Wallace 5

Rasler 4

Nikki Nate 3

Smith 2

 

Digs

Love 43

Smith 35

Rasler 34

Bianca Pickens 28

Barton 21

 

Assists

Barton 87