BRONSON — Playing back-to-back tournament to open the season, the Niles varsity volleyball team turned in a great weekend.

After reaching the semifinals at the Gull Lake Blue Devil Invitational Friday, the Vikings went a step further and finished second at the Bronson Invitational Saturday.

Niles defeated Homer (25-17, 25-20), Sturgis (25-18, 25-16) and Bronson (25-20, 25-18) to earn the top seed heading into semifinals.

The Vikings then knocked off Sturgis 25-14 and 25-14 to advance to the championship match against Bronson.

Bronson reversed its earlier loss to the Vikings with a 25-21 and 26-24 victory to claim the crown.

“We came off a tough semifinal loss Friday at the Gull Lake tournament and our goal today was to improve in various areas of play based on our weaknesses from that tourney,” Niles coach Jenny Nate said. “We did a much better job of balancing the court defensively and picking up tips. We also played more as a cohesive team unit today. We were able to maintain that strong level of play that we are striving for throughout our first four matches, but we were up and down and not as consistent in the championship.

“That inconsistency cost us the match. The great thing about this team of girls is that they are ready to work hard every day to keep making changes so that we can learn how to maintain the wins throughout every single set. Niles is now 7-2.

 

Bronson Invitational

Pool Play Results

Niles d. Homer 25-17, 25-20

Niles d. Sturgis 25-18, 25-16

Niles d. Bronson 25-20, 25-18

 

Semifinals

Niles d. Sturgis 25-14, 25-14

 

Championship Match

Bronson d. Niles 25-21, 26-24

 

Niles Statistics

Leading Scorers

Carly Barton 30 points, 6 aces

Bella Rasler 25 points, 7 aces

Jazmin Brann 21 points, 4 aces

Kelsey Barton 18 points, 6 aces

Holly Walker 18 points, 1 ace

Bre Love 17 points, 3 aces

 

Kills

Rasler 28

Kelsey Barton 26

Lexi Smith 24

Brann 12

Carly Barton 6

Nola Wallace 5

 

Blocks

Wallace 9

Rasler 5

Brann 5

Smith 3

Kelsey Barton 3

Carly Barton 1

 

Digs

Love 41

Walker 24

Kelsey Barton 23

Rasler 19

Carly Barton 14

Smith 8

 

Assists

Kelsey Barton 52

Carly Barton 41