DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac volleyball team continued its improvement under second-year coach Tony Hooley.

After winning 25 matches his first season, the Chieftains posted a 26-win season that included a red-hot finish to the regular season.

Dowagiac finished 3-6 in the Wolverine Conference, which was good for seventh place. The Chieftains were 26-17-4, which included an eight-match winning streak to end the regular season.

Dowagiac fell to Niles in the Division 2 district opener.

The Chieftains landed three players on the All-Wolverine Conference team.

Senior transfer Nicole Whan was a first-team selection as a setter, while senior Jenna Davis was a second-team pick as a middle hitter.

Sophomore Megan Davis was an honorable mention pick as an outside hitter.

Whan finished the season with 771 assists, 148 kills, 42 blocks, 229 digs and 84 aces.

“A great all-around player,” Hooley said of Whan. “There is not a facet of the setter position that she has not worked on perfecting. Nicole is the hardest working player I have ever coached.”

She has signed to play at Lawrence Technical University.

Davis’ season was slowed at the beginning due to a hand injury. As she got better, so did the Chieftains’ play.

Jenna Davis finished the year with 230 kills, 64 blocks, 108 digs and 76 aces.

“Jenna was our most consistent and powerful presence at the net,” Hooley said. “A punishing attacker and a solid blocker, she produced points and effected the match every time she was on the court.”

Megan Davis had 221 kills, 21 blocks, 198 digs and 50 aces.

“Don’t let her size fool you, Megan is a great athlete with a big vertical and a big arm,” Hooley said. “She has accomplished a lot already as a sophomore.”

All-Wolverine soccer

For the third consecutive season, the Dowagiac soccer team ended its season with a district championship.

Part of that is because of the efforts of seniors Cristian Wilson, Adrian Lee and Jose Carillo.

That trio of Chieftains also helped Dowagiac finish seventh in the final league standings.

Wilson was a first-team selection, while Lee and Carillo were honorable mention picks.

Wilson led Dowagiac with 29 goals and 14 assists. Carillo had a pair of goals and two assists, while Lee was the defensive leader for the Chieftains. He also had two goals and two assists.

“These are three young men that have shown great commitment and drive,” said Dowagiac coach Mike Williams. “They have played year-round and taken every opportunity given to them to be better players and make the most of their high school experience. They are great leaders by example and truly have a love for the game that will last past their high school days. They deserve all the accolades they have received — all-conference, all-district, all-region and all-state.”