By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The Brandywine Lady Bobcats tuned up for their showdown with Lakeland Conference leader Coloma Wednesday night by sweeping past Dowagiac in three games.
Brandywine defeated the visiting Chieftains in a non-conference match, 25-18, 25-15 and 25-23.
The Lady Bobcats dominated the Chieftains at the net in the first two games before Dowagiac made a run at Brandywine in the third game.
Senior Nikki Martyniuk led the way on both offense and defense for the Lady Bobcats.
Martyniuk finished with five blocks and nine kills.
The Lady Bobcats jumped out to a 13-9 lead in the opening game before the Chieftains made a comeback to close to within two points, 13-11.
Brandywine upped its lead to 17-13 before Dowagiac closed in one last time.
It was all Brandywine from there as the Lady Bobcats rolled to the seven-point win.
After tying the second game at 4-4, Dowagiac fell behind 10-5 and 20-8 before the Lady Bobcats put the Chieftains away.
The third game was nip and tuck with both teams making nice runs.
Dowagiac grabbed a 12-7 lead behind the serving of Sarah Shelton.
Brandywine caught the Chieftains at 14 and then took a 15-14 lead as Brooke Allen served Brandywine back into the match.
Dowagiac would lead 18-16 and then 22-21 before the Lady Bobcats rallied for the victory.
Freshman Missy Cooper gave Brandywine the lead for good at 23-22.
Besides Martyniuk's totals, Kendra Zache had eight kills for Brandywine and Smallwood had three blocks.
Kelli Zache led the Lady Bobcats with six digs and Alexa Perry had five digs. Cooper finished with nine assists and Emily Low five.
Jill Billingham led Dowagiac with three kills.
Brittany Bruens and Kim Luthringer both finished with four digs. Luthringer also had two blocks and four aces.
Jolynn Hawkins had 29 assists and one kill.