By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
The Dowagiac varsity volleyball team found its offense on Thursday night, but it wasn't enough to defeat visiting Berrien Springs.
The Lady Shamrocks pulled out a 5-game, non-conference victory over the Chieftains in a make up match from Monday night.
Berrien Springs won the second, fourth and fifth games to take the victory. Dowagiac won the second and third games, but was unable to finish the deal.
"We had a lot more offense tonight, but we made too many mistakes," Dowagiac coach Carl Greulich said. "It was a tough loss. I really thought we were going to beat them."
The Chieftains won the opening game, 25-20, but dropped the second game, 23-25. Dowagiac then won the third game 25-18, to open up a 2-1 advantage.
Berrien Springs was able tie the match up with a 25-17 win in the fourth game.
The Lady Shamrocks roared out to a 7-1 advantage on the Chieftains in the final game before Brittany Bruens served Dowagiac back into the match.
Bruens cut the lead to 10-6 with four consecutive service points.
Dowagiac would get no closer. Berrien Springs opened up a 13-8 lead and held on for a 15-11 win.
Sarah Shelton had a big night for the Chieftains as she was switched to the left side and came up with nine kills, three aces and two blocks.
"Sarah looked good on the left side," Greulich said. "It's a little late in the season to be switching the offense around, but we haven't been winning, so we had to do something."
Allison Frontczak finished with four kills, two blocks and two aces, while Bruens had eight kills and two aces. Emily Primley had five kills and Brittany Gnatz five digs.
Stephanie Barnas finished with 29 assists and three aces.
In freshmen action on Thursday, Dowagiac was defeated by Berrien Springs, 22-25 and 14-25. Alyssa Greenwood had four kills, Marquira Smith two kills and Danille Taylor one kill.
On Wednesday night, Gull Lake defeated Dowagiac.
The Chieftain junior varsity squad dropped a 12-25 and 19-25 decision to Berrien Springs on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Dowagiac fell to Gull Lake, 10-25 and 19-25.
No statistics were available.