By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Thursday night's Lakeland Conference volleyball match pitted two similar teams that were heading in the same direction. The similarity between the two was that each team was heading down the same path and both have been struggling to finish off games and pick up victories.
Edwardsburg (2-1 LAC) changed its direction on its home floor by taking a 3-1 win, 25-21, 25-22, 23-25, 28-26.
On the other side of the net Buchanan (0-3 LAC) continues to search to find the answer of how to finish off their opponent.
"We definitely made a different turn tonight," Eddies coach Sarah Benjamin said of her team's conference win. "I've been embedding in them that we want to win the close ones, we don't only want to win the ones that we are ahead of by a lot. This was a turn around point for us for sure."
Buchanan took a 10-4 lead in game one, but was unable to hold the lead as the Eddies tied the game at 17 and went on to the opening match win.
In game two, Edwardsburg's momentum continued and they were cruising to what looked like an easy second game victory.
The Lady Bucks dug themselves out of the hole and rallied their way back to tie the game at 21 and 22. But it was the Eddies finishing out the game with three consecutive points to take game two.
In the third game of the night, it was a battle the entire way with the Lady Bucks pulling out the win and sending the match to a fourth game.
"I was pleased that they didn't give up," a disappointed Buchanan coach Lisa Holok said. "Tonight they did a better job of responding after being down, but in the same breath we can't close out the close game. We are right on the edge, they just need that belief in each other and that belief in themselves. Confidence in themselves can break the barrier. Right now we are on that edge of having that confidence."
In the fourth game, Buchanan was pushing the Eddies looking to force a fifth game, and pulled ahead, 16-9. Edwardsburg once again began to chip away at the lead as Buchanan couldn't put the knock out punch on the Eddies after taking a 23-16 advantage. The Eddies tied the game at 24 and closed out the match taking a thrilling 28-26 win.
The Eddies were led by Evie Tafuai and Stephanie Koontz with 17 kills each. C. C. Roberts finished the night with 41 assists. Chrissy Breisch had 23 digs to lead the Eddies.
For the Lady Bucks Courtney Miller collected 21 digs and 11 kills, Mattie Arndt had five blocks and eight kills. Emily Ross picked up 33 assists and 10 digs while Lindsey Borr had two aces and 25 digs. Jayme O'Bryant had 20 digs and eight kills.