By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
A short-handed Dowagiac varsity volleyball team was no match for No. 8 ranked Gull Lake Thursday night in Wolverine Conference play.
The Chieftains traveled to Richland without its starting and second setter, and lost a middle hitter in the second game.
Dowagiac finished the night without a single reserve on the bench in a 25-16, 25-15 and 25-17 loss to the Lady Blue Devils.
Stephanie Barnas and Katie Ernzen were unable to play due to injury and illness respectively. In the second game, Sarah Shelton went down with an apparent ankle injury and was taken to the hospital.
The extent of her injury was unknown at press time.
"The last 24 hours have been unreal and very stressful," first-year Dowagiac coach Ryan Frontczak said. "We ended up having back row players playing front row by the end of the night. You know I have to give my girls credit through; they never did give up.
"Our main concern right now is to get healthy. We are not going to make excuses and we know we need girls to step up now and fill in," he added.
The Chieftains are now 21-10 on the season.