By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
BERRIEN SPRINGS – First-year Dowagiac volleyball coach Ryan Frontczak was hoping his team would bring its 'A' game Tuesday night in the opening round of the Class B districts.
The Chieftains didn't and as a result, St. Joseph advanced to the semifinals on Thursday night with a 25-13, 21-25, 25-16 and 25-13 victory.
In the other opening night contest, Lakeland Conference champion Edwardsburg got off to a slow start, but picked things up in eliminating host Berrien Springs 25-20, 25-13 and 25-14.
Dowagiac…1
St. Joseph…3
The Lady Bears and Chieftains traded points back and forth in the first game, but a late rally gave St. Joseph the 25-13 victory.
Dowagiac gathered itself up in the second game and pretty much dominated it to pick up the 25-21 victory.
The Chieftains held a 12-11 lead in the third game when St. Joseph went on a 14-4 scoring spree to take the game 25-16 to take a 2-1 lead on Dowagiac.
It was all Lady Bears in the final game.
St. Joseph (26-26-3) advances to Thursday's semifinal match to take on Buchanan. Play is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
Despite the loss, the Chieftains have a lot to celebrate this season.
After winning just three matches last season, Dowagiac finishes with a 26-15 overall record and a sixth place finish in the Wolverine Conference tournament.
"We had a great season," Frontczak said. "We improved so much and we have to be proud of that. We didn't pull it off tonight, but that happens. We have no reason to be disappointed about our season."
Emily Primley finished the night with six kills and a block, while Allison Frontczak had four kills, a block, an ace and a dig.
Tasia Diaz was credited with two kills, nine digs and an ace, while Sarah Shelton had two kills. Katy Stuppy finished with three kills and a block.
Brittany Gnatz ended the evening with six digs. Morgan Tanzillo, Stephanie Grabemeyer and Kathy Lindt all had four digs.
Edwardsburg…3
Berrien Springs…0
The Lady Eddies proved why they are the Lakeland Conference champions with the sweep of league foe Berrien Springs.
The Lady Shamrocks gave Edwardsburg all it wanted in the opening game, but in the end, it was the play of Stephanie Koontz and Evie Tafunai, which led the Lady Eddies to the 25-20 win.
"We came off a big high off of last weekend," Edwardsburg coach Sarah Chicowicz said. "I told them and told them not to come off thinking they're just going to walk all over Berrien Springs, that we needed to take care of business. In the beginning, we were caught off guard, then we got into a rhythm."
And what a rhythm it was.
Edwardsburg (42-7-3) steam rolled Berrien Springs in the final two games to advance to Thursday's semifinals against Lakeshore.
The match will be a special one for Chicowicz, who played for the Lady Lancers.
The Lady Eddies and Lakeshore played earlier this season with Edwardsburg taking a rather comfortable victory.
"It was pretty easy," she responded to a question about the first meeting with the Lady Lancers. "But it was the first game and we have to make sure that we are preparing ourselves for a different Lakeshore team."
Koontz and Tafunai both had big nights for the Lady Eddies.
Tafunai finished with 12 kills, nine digs and three aces, while Koontz had 14 kills, eight digs and four blocks.
Elise Mackling, just a sophomore, added 10 kills, nine digs and two blocks.
Senior setter C.C. Roberts was on the mark again Tuesday night as she collected 31 assists, 13 digs and an ace.
Edwardsburg also got 12 digs from Jeni Bollenbacher.
The Lady Eddies and Lady Lancers will play in the second semifinal on Thursday. Play is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. or 20 minutes after the completion of the first semifinal.
Winners advance to Saturday's championship match at 10 a.m.