By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
DOWAGIAC - St. Joseph held off Coloma in the championship game of the Dowagiac Chieftain Invitational on Wednesday.
The Lady Bears, champions of Pool B, defeated Coloma, the runner-up in Pool B, 23-25, 25-17 and 15-10.
St. Joseph went 6-0 in pool play, defeating South Haven, Niles and Coloma.
In the semifinals, the Lady Bears defeated Dowagiac 25-19 and 25-10. Coloma defeated Plainwell in the other semifinal, 19-25, 25-17 and 15-13.
The Chieftains went 3-3 in pool play to advance to the semifinals as the runner-up in Pool A. Plainwell went 6-0 in Pool A.
Bridgman went 2-4 in Pool A, while Buchanan went 0-6.
The Lady Bucks were short-handed on Wednesday due to injury, illness and vacations.
In Pool B, Niles went 2-4 and South Haven went 0-6.
The Chieftains lost to Plainwell in their opening match of pool play, 25-10 and 25-20. Dowagiac then swept Buchanan, 25-24 and 25-12, before splitting with Bridgman, 25-14, 23-25.
Buchanan lost to Dowagiac, Bridgman, 25-19, 25-17, and to Plainwell, 25-14 and 25-14.
Niles lost to Coloma 25-14 and 25-8, defeated South Haven 25-24 and 25-18, and lost to St. Joseph 25-19 and 25-19.
Jill Billingham had 18 kills to lead the Chieftains, while Brittany Bruens finished with 17 kills and Kim Luthringer 16 kills.
Lindsay Tyler and Amy Wood both finished with 12 digs, while Luthringer and Ann O'Keefe had 11 digs.
Billingham also led Dowagiac in blocks with 14. Sarah Shelton finished with 13 blocks.
Jill Wiesemes had 100 setting assists, while Wood had five aces. Billingham and Luthringer both had three aces.
Niles was led by Kaylynn Stephenson's 16 kills. Karly Kennedy finished with 12 kills and Claire Molnar 10.
Samantha Brawley finished with a team-high 21 digs, while Kennedy had 11 digs and Molnar nine.
Maddy Peterek had 30 setting assists, while Tori Mitchell finished with 12 assists.
Brawley also led the team in service points with 21. Stephenson finished with nine points, while Kennedy had six points. Molnar and Mitchell both finished with five points.
Buchanan got 13 kills from Jill Woodrick and seven kills from Laura Kulis.
Emily Ross had 37 setting assists, while Mattie Arndt had 10 blocks.
The Lady Bucks also got 10 digs each from Woodrick and Holly Lucas.
The Chieftains will return to action on Jan. 7, 2006 when it competes in the Portage Northern Invitational.
Buchanan will also be in action on Jan. 7, 2006 when it competes in the Bronson Invitational.
Niles will host the Lady Bucks in their next match on Monday, Jan. 9, 2006.
Chieftain Invitational
Pool A results
Plainwell def. Dowagiac 25-10,
25-20
Bridgman def. Buchanan 25-19,
25-17
Dowagiac def. Buchanan 25-24,
25-12
Plainwell def. Bridgman 25-15,
Dowagiac split Bridgman 25-14, 23-25
Plainwell def. Buchanan 25-14, 25-14
Pool B results
St. Joe def. South Haven 25-13, 25-8
Coloma def. Niles 25-14, 25-8
Niles def. South Haven 25-24. 25-18
St. Joe def Coloma 25-24, 25-19
Coloma def South Haven 25-17, 25-17
St. Joe def. Niles 25-19, 25-19
Semifinals
Coloma defeated Plainwell: 19-25, 25-17, 15-13
St. Joe defeated Dowagiac: 25-19, 25-10
Finals
St. Joe defeated Coloma: 23-25, 25-17, 15-10