By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
BRIDGMAN - Coloma secured the Lakeland Conference volleyball championship Saturday by defeating River Valley 25-12, 26-28 and 15-11 in the championship match at Bridgman High School. The Comets finished the regular season undefeated in league play.
Edwardsburg came into the tournament trailing the Comets in second place ahead of River Valley, who entered the tourney third in the season standings.
Coloma, Edwardsburg, River Valley and Berrien Springs played its way into the championship bracket, working its way through pool play. Coloma finished 6-0, River Valley and Edwardsburg 6-1 and Berrien Springs 3-3.
Coloma advanced to the championship game setting down Edwardsburg 25-11, 25-11, while the Mustangs took out Berrien Springs 25-23, 25-18.
Buchanan ended the day with a sixth place finish, falling into the consolation round after a 3-3 finish in pool play. The Lady Bucks split their two pool games with Berrien Springs 25-15, 11-25, but the Shamrocks kept the Bucks out of the championship round with three more points scored in their two games. Buchanan got past Cassopolis 25-22, 25-16 to advance to play Bridgman. After winning the opening game 25-18, the Lady Bucks dropped their final two game to the Bees 23-25,11-15.
Brandywine came into the tournament in fifth place. An 0-6 pool play finish sent them into the consolation round to face Bridgman, where they fell to the Bees 25-21, 25-21. Brandywine went on to defeat Cassopolis 25-23, 25-21 for a seventh place tourney finish.
Buchanan will host the Class C District tournament, which beginsThursday when Eau Claire takes on Watervliet at 5:30 p.m. River Valley will face Bridgman at 7 p.m. Brandywine will take on the winner of the Eau Claire/Watervliet on Saturday at 9 a.m with Buchanan going up against the River Valley/Bridgman at 10:30 a.m. and the championship game played at noon.
Final Lakeland standings
1. Coloma
2. River Valley
2. Edwardsburg
4. Buchanan
5. Brandywine
5. Berrien Springs
7. Bridgman
8. Cassopolis
Buchanan stats
Courtney Miller 75 assists 29 digs
Mattie Arndt 8 digs, 4 aces, 23 kills
Anna Callahan 18 kills, 10 blocks
Lindsey Borr 7 kills, 32 digs, 2 aces
Holly Lucas 40 digs
Jayme O'Bryant 26 digs 7 aces 14 kills