CASSOPOLIS — For more than a week, the Cassopolis volleyball team had been waiting for Dowagiac to return to Ross Beatty Jr./Sr. High School.

The Chieftains had defeated the Rangers in three sets to win the Cass Classic season-opening tournament.

Coach Demi Schrader and her team had been practicing and waiting to gain a measure of revenge against the Chieftains and that is exactly what Cassopolis did Monday night as it swept Dowagiac 25-22, 25-19 and 25-22.

“We worked all week on ways that we could execute and finish,” Schrader said. “I was very happy that we could do it in three (sets). I think that we were able to pick things back up after losing a point instead of letting them get a run. I think we were able to get the ball back and side-out quickly instead of letting them add up the points.”

After a quick start by the Chieftains, it was easy to see that their heart was not in the match.

That lack of emotion and desire would allow the Rangers to continue to build the momentum throughout the match.

“We started off great and we were confident,” Dowagiac coach Rachel Zeider said. “We were ready to go in there and do exactly what we needed to do and to do what we worked on. Then we went flat. They kind of started getting frustrated with missed points and unforced errors and I do not think their confidence was able to bring them back to where they needed to be.”

Cassopolis was better in most phases of the game, but both teams struggled to serve the ball most of the match.

Maile Barber led the Rangers with eight kills, while she also had 13 digs and two block assists.

Sophie Fiala also had a big night at the net for the Rangers as she had two kills, five solo blocks and five block assists. Fiala also had four four digs.

Lynnzee Armstrong finished with 14 digs, while Gabby Rowan had 14 assists. Olivia Purlee added 11 digs.

Taylore Froehlich led the Chieftains with seven kills, while Kelsey Crocker had four kills.

Natalie Davis and Shelby Jackson finished with 38 and 32 digs respectively.