By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
SOUTH HAVEN – The improvement of the Dowagiac varsity volleyball team continued on Monday morning as the Chieftains won the South Haven Quad.
Dowagiac (6-2) defeated Watervliet, Lake Michigan Catholic and Wolverine Conference foe South Haven to close in on equaling last year's victory total.
The Chieftains opened up with the Lady Panthers and posted a 25-16 and 25-12 victory.
Dowagiac then knocked off Lake Michigan Catholic 25-11 and 25-16 to set up a showdown with the host Lady Rams.
After pulling out a 26-24 victory over South Haven in the first game, the Chieftains rolled to a 25-11 win in the second game.
"We really dominated from the word go today," first-year Dowagiac coach Ryan Frontczak said. "The girls really deserve tons of credit on what they have accomplished thus far this season. As we know, we have a long way to go to get to where we want to be by the end of the season."
Katy Stuppy, who has returned to the team after a year off, led Dowagiac with 13 kills.
The Chieftains also got 12 kills from Allison Frontczak, nine kills from Sarah Shelton and seven kills from Emily Primley.
Stephanie Barnas led the team with 44 assists, while Tasia Diaz finished with a team-high 22 digs.
Brittany Gnatz had 16 digs, Morgan Tanzillo 13 digs and Kathy Lindt 11 digs.
"Also playing great for the team was Jenna Mitchell and Linzy Kling," Frontczak said.
The Chieftains were without Stephanie Grabemeyer, who has also returned to the program after sitting out last season, due to illness.
Dowagiac opens up Wolverine Conference play on Wednesday when they travel to Three Rivers. The best of five match is scheduled to begin at approximately 6 p.m.