By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN - For the second straight year Dowagiac coach Carl Greulich found his squad on the wrong end of a non-conference score.
The Lady Bucks defeated the visiting Chieftains 25-11, 25-16 and 25-25-22.
Monday night Greulich and Buchanan coach Lisa Holok didn't have any trouble figuring out what happened.
Holok said that her young squad, which played inconsistently in its season opener on Saturday at Niles, had a more balanced attack against the Chieftains.
Greulich said what happened to his team was simple.
Buchanan took the first game behind the serving of senior Haley Burks.
Burks served up none of the Lady Bucks' 25 points.
The Lady Bucks jumped out to a 4-1 lead on four straight service winners by Courtney Miller.
Dowagiac would eventually tie the game at 8-8 on a pair of service points from Brittany Bruens.
Buchanan then went up 18-10 after Miller served five consecutive points.
Dowagiac would cut the lead to 18-12, but would come no closer.
In the third game the Lady Bucks grabbed a 5-1 lead on four straight service points by Jill Woodrick.
The lead would be 10-5 following three more points by Burks, but the Chieftains would keep the game close, eventually tying the match at 22-22.
Woodrick and Burks finished with 10 and nine kills respectively, while Katrina Weldy had eight kills.
Buchanan also got five blocks and 33 assists from Emily Ross. Lindsey Borr finished with nine digs. Woodrick had 10 digs.
Billingham and Shelton had three and two kills respectively.
Lindsey Tyler and Shelton both had two service aces, while Billingham and Kim Luthringer each had two blocks.
Bruens had 15 assists.
Dowagiac is back in action on Saturday at the Berrien Springs Invitational. Pool play begins at 8 a.m.
In freshmen volleyball, Dowagiac defeated Buchanan Monday night 25-6 and 25-14.
Buchan won the junior varsity match in three games.
The Chieftains won the opening game 25-15.
Buchanan then took the second game 25-11.
In the third and deciding game, the Lady Bucks defeated the Chieftains 15-11.